While visiting a farm on the weekend, we were just in time to see the newest calves being taken down to the calf shed. That's mum looking on. A nice warm time of the year for these calves to be born, although lots of annoying flies around.
Mum will follow on hopefully. The ideal,is for the calves to be left with mum but no one could appreciate the confusion that would cause! Surprising the quicker the calves are taken away the better for both parties. Calves get plenty of milk & mum back with the herd doing her job.....it's a business after all. Lovely clear shot. Just thinking that it's the wrong time of the year for calves in NZ? Perhaps they calve all year round...is this a liquid milk farm Dianne........sorry to much writing & questions!
Lovely shot of a working farm in action... thanks for the explanation for why the calves get separated so soon, too. I find it a bit more reassuring to know why. ;)
@happypat yes I think this farm milks all year - and a good explanation of what happens - it's easy to forget that's what is familiar to some is new territory for others.
This is quite interesting - enjoyed reading the background - had no idea they separated the mom and calf early on. She does look rather unhappy about it, but from what I read, they'll both adjust. Lovely shot of farm life.
@milaniet@rosiekerr@kelly2@dmcoile@dh The colostrum milk (rich in antibodies and other goodies) that the cow produces for the first few days is fed to the calves, to give them a good start in life. Have a look at @happypat (Pat Knowles) on this page - she has given a great explanation too.
Super capture of a normal farm scene. I've loved reading the thread. I can remember feeding calves from the bucket when we went to mu Uncle Sam's farm in the late 40s early 50s. It was a favourite thing to do.
