Working Ranch Blog

Number Four by Brett Haas
Mar. 8 2010, 9:43 PM

I know I've filled your hearts with sad calving stories as of late, so I thought I'd switch gears and shine a little light. I suppose it's always human nature to focus on the negative. I guess that's why Jesus told the parable about the shepherd and the lost sheep. He asked who wouldn't leave the ninety-nine and go look for the one who's lost. You get attached to these animals. So, even if you save a dozen, when you lose that one, it still gets to you, and there's a part of you that feels you didn't do enough, even if, deep down, you know you did. So I'd like to tell you about little number four, and maybe that will help remind me that despite the heartaches, there's always hope, and a need to look at the glass half full.

A couple weeks ago we moved the remaining first calf heifers out of the pasture east of headquarters, to a small, 20 acre trap north of headquarters. I was fed up with pulling calves out of the creek, and worrying over it, so this smaller pasture with no creek was just what the vet ordered. However, there was a small pond in there, but there was also a water fountain, so I thought that even though I don't like the pond, it's better than a creek, and the cattle will get use to the clean water from the fountain, and prefer to drink from it vs. the pond, right? Well, if we were talking about your average bears, we'd probably be pretty close to right, but, unfortunately we are dealing with heifers here, so all bets are off. At least, I thought, there weren't as many steep ledges on a pond, except, of course, for the dam. Well this dam was pretty narrow, and there was a good sized tree lying right in the middle of it, so those heifers will probably stay off, right?

Oh, you stinkin' heifers! Of course, the second day they're in there, I drop by for my afternoon check, and lo and behold, wouldn't you know it, there was a heifer...on the dam...laying down...pushing with all the might God gave her...trying so hard...to do her best to have that calf...with, of course, her business side pointed right at the water's edge. Sigh. There's a Simpson's episode, where Homer is forced by the EPA to take care of an endangered caterpillar. One of the caterpillar's traits is that it's sexually attracted to fire. Homer legitimately wondered whether God wanted this caterpillar to truly remain in the gene pool, despite the EPA's insistence. I have to say that sometimes I have the same thoughts about first calf heifers. I guess that's why God made cowboys, though, and I'm not a Darwinian evolutionist, so as long as I can, I'm gonna do my best to help those not-so-bright first time mothers.

So anywho, she has the calf and actually keeps him on dry ground. Then, shortly she's up and licking away. Hey, I'm thinking, she might pull this off. Now, the whole time it's taking every ounce of willpower I have not to run down and get that calf off the dam. I was close enough, and had my hand on the handle of the truck door waiting to do my Jesse Owens impression if need be. Well, sure enough, between his wobbly legs, and mom's powerful tongue, off the edge he went. He didn't hit the water right away, but was hanging on for dear life. I was off like a politician after tax money, and I had the calf up and away to safety in a flash. I dragged him to a nice dry spot with no hopes of finding the water. Mom followed so I knew she was still interested. I knew he was safe, and mom was still licking, so I left to go do some chores.

In an hour I returned to find the calf still down, laid out, and shivering. I threw him in the truck, and turned the heater on high. Soon he was perked up, so I thought I'd try momma again. She was interested, but he just wouldn't get up and suck. I left him be until ten that night when I did my last check for the night. Nothing was going, so I didn't have to worry about that, but when I went to go see number four I found him laid out again and cold. Back in the truck he went, and back home I went with a new guest for a sleep over.

The last time I took a calf home he about scared my wife half to death trying to nurse the washing machine at 3 a.m. Number four wasn't as aggressive, and even thought I got a good night's sleep because of that fact, I was kinda wishing he would have woke me up ready to go to momma for that first suck. I had given him a little nourishment that evening; to be sure he'd make it through the night. I gave him a little more in the morning, and that got him perked up. He was ready for the real thing.

I hauled him back over and mom was happy to see he was o.k. He was wanting to nurse, but mom kept doing the crazy heifer two-step. She eventually got distracted long enough by another cow, that jr. slipped in there and got him some colostrum. Kirk and I worried about him for the next couple days 'cause we never saw him suck a whole lot. I even went out the next night and gave him a little milk replacer to make sure he'd live to see tomorrow. Kirk finally saw him latched on good and tight one Sunday morning, and mom and him have been doing good ever since. I still gotta go make myself find number four when I'm in those heifers. He's always fine, and therefore, so am I.

Tell me your good calving stories at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com, or look me up on Facebook or Twitter.