Learning Process

I told you about the new calf living on our hilltop on Monday.  She's very pretty, with plenty of white, and a delightful red color.

Sunday morning, I spied the new calf's momma grazing in the pasture west of my house. I realized the calf must be nearby, but where. Then I spotted her.

Momma had tucked her new baby in a nice warm spot in the sun on the north side of the fence.  She was now grazing south of that fence.

I immediately called Sharon to come look at how the cow had tucked her baby away. Sharon no more than got to the gate to see, and the baby decided it was time to get up and go find her momma.

As soon as she stood up, Sharon was worried. "How's the baby going to get through the fence?"

"Don't worry. The baby'll figure it out."

"How do you know?"

"Just watch."

The calf got up, looked toward her momma,  Sure enough, she started up the fence toward the open gate. But she only went up the fence part way, then turned and came back toward where she'd been lying.

Sharon is calling encouragement to the calf. "No, no.  Turn around and go the other way, baby."

The calf decided going in the direction away from the gate was the wrong way, so turned around again.

"That's it baby. Now go around the gate."

This time the calf went to the hinge-post before turned around.

"No, no, no.  Go the other way, all the way around the gate."

I chuckled and told Sharon the baby was learning about fences this morning, and not to worry.

This time, almost as if she heard Sharon coaching her, the calf walked around the gate then made a bee-line for Momma. And of course, as soon as she got to her mother, she spun into the correct position and got a drink of milk.

New Resident on Our Hilltop

I was really this close to the new baby. At this age, they are quite content to let you get pretty close.  Momma is quiet and not defensive, so she watched me, but offered no argument to me getting close.  

I headed for the barn to feed hay this morning.  When I turned toward the barn I was delighted to see the cow and her new baby.  As many calves as I've seen over the years, there is still something special about finding a new one.

The cow is very gentle and is used to having me in the pasture near them.  She watched me carefully when I took these pictures, but offered no disagreement.

The calf didn't get up until I was very close, and just looked at me.  She let out a little bawl once or twice, almost as if to say, "Momma. What is this? Should I be afraid?"

When the cow answered with a very low sound, the baby immediately got on her feet.  Momma moved in behind the calf, but didn't offer to be difficult. As soon as the calf saw her, just a moment after the below picture, they moved off together.

My wife hadn't seen the calf, though I told her about the new baby when I returned from the barn. She got on the quad with me, and we drove out in the back field where I was sure the cow had gone.  As soon as we topped a rise, I saw Momma and baby.

Baby has just gotten up, and Momma is keeping a close eye on me.  There was no risk she'd charge me or offered any fight.