We named her Snowflake after our big December snowstorm, the aftermath of which is still all over the ground. Had she been born just a day sooner, she would've been welcomed to temperatures of -11 degrees F. Instead, she'll get a few days growth before it drops below zero again. She also happens to have some snowflake-like markings on her back.Belle had been with a bull for a few months in the spring, but we weren't even positive she'd been bred, let alone when she would calve. She'd been residing in the barnyard as a precaution so that she wouldn't calve somewhere way off on the back forty where we wouldn't even know for days.
So yesterday, just a little after noon, Don's dad walked by the barn door and did a double-take, having just past Norman and seeing a calf in the barn. It must've just happened, as she wasn't even cleaned up yet. But, she was up and getting around. We left the new mom and babe alone after giving them a nice new layer of straw to bed in and closing them into their own section of the barn to get acquainted without interference. They'll rejoin the rest today.
Belle is still so wild. But, we'll start working with her this weekend, and, if Caroline is any indication, she'll be tame in a few days.
We brought Don out to the barn after he returned from work to show little Snowflake off (and determine if it was a heifer or bull). We are so excited to finally get a heifer. After Bert and Norman, I was starting to get impatient for a heifer! The lighting is a little dim in the barn, so the pictures aren't the best, but here are Belle and Snowflake...
Next up, should be Lily!
8 comments:
What a pretty little calf!
And what a beautiful heifer she is!!
Cute! Micah says he wants to keep her!
She's beautiful!
Snowflake is gorgeous! Congratulations on getting a girl!
What a pretty calf. Is the mother a Red Holstein? Jennifer Fritzen
Jennifer,
We were told that she is fully Jersey. However, I suspect that she is actually a mixture, at a minimum. She didn't come with papers, though, so I suppose she will always be a bit of a mystery!
Congratulations on both new calves. Lily looks like a nice cow. I tend to agree with you on snowflakes mother. She is definitely not pure Jersey, at least not like any jersey I have ever seen (and I have seen my fair share of spotted Jerseys). From her pictures she seems to have a different build. Just at a guess, I would say she is a red holstein cross. I have always liked red holsteines:) Jennifer
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