The story of my orphan calf
Posted by Diane Conklin
Following is another great guest blog post. Leann is a north Missouri resident and life long farmer and cowgirl. We look forward to many more of her stories!
by: Leann Botkin
Fall; a time of color, a time of harvest and if you’re lucky
a time for fall calves! On our farm fall calving is in full swing. Now there are several schools of thought on fall calving versus spring calving; but we have yet to decide which method is better so we do both! No matter what season I think all can agree that there is nothing more peaceful than seeing a group of mama cows and calves in pasture. It's truly one of those blessed moments that we get to experience down on the farm. Farms allow us to watch the entire life story unfold; from birth to death farmers witness it all. And we truly understand that there is a time for everything under heaven. This fall was a great teacher of that.
I have never lived where I couldn't see corn or cattle from my window; even in my early years when my family lived on the outskirts of town. So it was not a huge adjustment when we moved from the little house on the edge of town to the country on a farm of our own. Once settled my parents made their first cattle purchase. They bought several heifers and a bull and began raising calves for market. We've been doing it ever since. In that original herd there were several characters, and culls. But one cow in particular was my favorite. She was different from the others. She didn’t have a tag because you could just pick her out in the field. She also was a very productive cow; always had calves. They were always good calves; easy to put weight on and really sharp looking.
It was kind of sad this fall when she died. She was the last cow from that original herd. We began to notice in the summer just how old she was. It was hard to keep weight on her and she looked downright shabby compared to the young sleek cows grazing near her. Mom and Dad wouldn’t sell her. They said it just didn’t feel right to sell her for hamburger at the sale barn. She would live out the rest of her days in the pasture. And I have to agree it was the right thing to do by her.
She was like clockwork and had calves every year. And true to her nature before she died, she gave us one last calf. That little bull calf was born a couple of days before she died. I wasn't there when my dad found her and the calf. I'm sure it was very sad sight. But as I said earlier, farmers often get to see the beginning and end of the life. I just found this particular instant to be a little more poignant.
We now have a "bottle" calf on 
the farm. He is a stubborn calf and would not take a bottle. We lucked out and were able to teach him how to drink from a pail. So we mix up some milk replacer and he drinks it up like a champ! It's given my family a little extra chore to do but, no one is complaining. He seems to be gaining weight he still has a lot of catching up to do. Soon will be able to turn him out with the other calves, by that time the ol' wheel of life will have turned again.