No matter how much we think we know about our cows, calving time always reveals another perspective about a cow's disposition. Here are a few things I picked up from observing mother cows.
1. If you don't want anyone to know what you're up to, act normal.
Some cows don't show any signs of getting close to calving, they just calve. They'll go about grazing or chewing cud while my husband and I meticulously look over the herd to sort off potential calvers. Then, without warning, we'll see one of these cows later licking off her new calf.
2. Going off someplace to be alone is the best way to get attention.
Whether we spot a cow off yonder or our head-count is off, loner cows always get our attention.
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3. The quickest way to gain respect and not be taken for granted is to let others know where you stand and when you've met your limits.
A new momma cow that tries to take us quickly gains our respect for her boundaries and limitations. We re-approach cautiously and meddle as minimally as possible.
4. If someone is trying to rush you, make a break to escape.
If nothing else, when they try again they'll have more patience. And so it goes when trying to sort off one cow from the herd to take to the barn.
5. All mothers look out for babies.
When a cow senses danger by the sight of a coyote slinking around or the scent of a mountain lion, cows will abandon their grazing and beller to warn all the others and immediately trot over to check on their calf.
6. Delivering offspring can make mothers moody.
Some cows will express their dislike for disruption until they are content that they've bonded with their calf to their satisfaction. Motherly moodiness is usually temporary.
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7. Protect your loved ones.
A mother cow's bond with her new calf can be hard to come between, and I can't help but admire (and understand) when a cow makes an attempt to prove it if her instincts cause her to go into defensive protection mode against us.
8. If someone starts messing with your baby, relocate someplace else.
A cow instinctively seeks privacy and will take her calf someplace where she thinks they won't be bothered for a while.
9. There's always somebody who thinks they know how to take care of, dry off or feed your baby better than you.
Sometimes when we think Mother Nature is taking too long with a new cow-calf pair, we have a tendency to want to take over and get things done more quickly.
10. Cows are females; therefore, expect them to change their mind.
When they start acting as if they're ready to have their calf and we put them in the barn on a cold, snowy and windy night, they might change their mind and halt any calving symptoms with their willpower (or so it seems).
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11. Never underestimate the female gender, regardless of species.
When we get confident in thinking we understand our mother cows, they'll pull a new behavior on us out of nowhere.
12. Contentment isn't hard to find.
Mother cows exemplify contentment. When a cow knows she's got food in all four stomachs and some cud to chew on, that her dozing, well-fed baby is close enough to nuzzle or lick and that some days she can bask in sunshine, it's hard not to act content.
Editor's note: Kirk ranches near Pringle, S.D., and writes a blog at www.amykirk .
com.
