Community Corner
Soule: Two More Scottish Highland Calves Join the Herd
Let my Scottish Highland calves steal your heart. They sure stole mine.. Cute calves are adorable but giving birth is fraught with danger
The crowds had left, the cattle were back in their pastures, and Miles Smith Farm’s pre-Easter celebration of springtime was over. During the event, more than 50 children (not all at once) had climbed onto the back of our mighty Scottish Highland ox, Curious Bleu. The kids and their parents had snuggled with our rabbits, hugged Millie the calf, fed our steers alfalfa cubes, and scratched Joy’s belly, our “welcome dog.” As they left the farm, visitors were asked, “What did you like?”
“June and her calf Dolly.”
“Joy the dog.”
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“The rabbits.”
“Everything.”
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Visitors loved the day, but so did the animals, who got unlimited alfalfa cubes.
A week before the event, June, the cow, a first-time mother, had separated herself from the herd. She was pacing, lying down, and getting up, so I brought her to the holding pen for observation. Two hours later, two little hooves were sticking out.
I attached a rope to each leg, and as June pushed, I pulled. Seconds later, she gave birth. It took a while for June to accept her calf, whom I named Dolly, but soon she was licking the newborn, and within two hours, the Dolly was nursing.
Most cows give birth easily in the field, but sometimes human assistance is needed. During calving season, checking on pregnant cows twice a day is essential.
After the springtime celebration, I checked on expectant Daisy and found her standing over her shivering calf, licking it. The calf was alive and breathing but still in danger.
Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H., where she raises and sells beef and other local products. She can be reached at carolesoule60@gmail.com.
