Calves Vs Babies

VS

While changing my 2 month old son's diaper the other day, I thought to myself that I never have to do this to calves.  And then I really started running with that thought until I came to this train wreck...

So with the help of his older sisters here are

The Top 10 Reasons Why Calves Are Better Than Babies

1. While you may get up to feed them hungry calves do not wake you up at night.
2. When you take them on  a trip you don't have to put the calf in a "calf seat."
3. You can legally sell a calf.
4. You never have to fear a calf crying in a movie theater, restaurant, or plane.
5. When you vaccinate a calf you can put it in a head chute.
6.You never have to burp a calf.
7. Calves do not need to be rocked to sleep.
8. You do not have to dress a calf.
9. Calves do not need any toys to play with.
10. You don't have to change a calf's diaper.

Not Just A Number

Our cows wear a number, but that does not make them just a number.  We don't have a philosophical reason for not giving our animals names, for us, the number on their "necklace" suffices.  With around 100 milking cows on our farm we still recognize their personality quirks.  427 only wants to eat at the end of the feedway, 65 only goes into the barn on the very last run (don't even ask her to go earlier), and 377 likes to hang out in the pasture field.

Large farms are no different.  You still must have employees watching the animals to find out how they are behaving to help them reach their full potential in the herd.  What is a big factory farm?  I really don't know.  I think any farm that takes pride in their animals and gets to know them and their needs can find success in more than just numbers.

Laying Out of Work Again?

Have you ever had an employee that was late for work?  Everyday?  Well, that it certainly the case with one of  our cows.  We turn our cows out on pasture every morning and evening between milkings.  Every cow comes in on her own to be milked in the morning except for one, number 377.  She does not just not come in, she sometimes hides in the corners of the field to prevent me from finding her when I ride out in the tractor or truck.  Now, 377 has no physical ailments, no lameness, nothing wrong with her at all; no reason to lay out of work. She milks great, doesn't fight, and it a great eater.  She just likes sleeping in.

In my other blog I might write about how she is sticking it to the man  by laying out, but I am hopeful about her.  Everyday I look for her not to be in the field.  And someday I might be right.