Dumb cow

**QuarterCowGirl** · 06-19-2008, 03:28 PM

This past Tuesday was vet day! Yay! I think I'm actually getting pretty good at it so it's not such a chore anymore. On this particular occasion, I had to mark and sort out 11 cows from the west group and 11 more cows from the east group and then I had to lock up 8 heifers, it wasn't a big day by any means, there's been other times where I had about 50 to mark and sort, so this should have been a piece of cake. However, cow #695 had other plans.

You have to understand the lay out of the barn to follow my story....

The west side consists of three sections : Group #1 (cows that have just had babies, cows that we want to keep an eye on, sick cows etc.) This group consists of 8 cows and they reside in the far south west corner.

Group #3 In the middle are the cows that have had babies and are a little further along in their lactations. They are anywhere from 60-130 days in milk. About 70 cows are in this group.

Dry Cows They are at the far north west corner we have about 20 dry cows there. They stay there until they get bagged up and then they get moved to another part of the barn into a boxstall to have their calves.

So on this day, I was busy as a beaver sorting and marking 11 cows in group 2. I glanced over into the dry cow group to see that a baby had been born. The first time mother #695 had bagged up, but not much so she hadn't been moved yet. So I went in there and moved that baby up into a sand stall until I had a moment to move them into the boxstall. I couldn't leave her in the alley as the scrapper was about to start up and that would result in the baby being dragged the length of the entire barn through all three groups - not good.

So the baby (a heifer calf by the way) was safe, so I continued on with my sorting and let the momma cow clean her newborn off.

After about 20 mins I looked over the gate to see what the baby was doing and I couldn't see her anywhere.

I literally flew over the gate and I'm looking around in a frantic manner. The group really isn't that big, where was she? It was at that moment that I saw a little leg coming out from under a cow who laying down, her tag said #695 - the the mother cow!

She was laying on top of her baby making momma noises, smothering her baby to death.

I freaked out, started yelling and screaming and the idiot finally got up off her baby. The poor baby is now covered in sand gasping for air, can't blame her. Poor thing is maybe 25 mins old and got layed on by her 900lbs dam and had her head buried in the sand.

I moved the baby into the cow feed where she'd be safe and then I got the boss to come look after her and the dumb mother.

What a stupid, stupid cow.

I'm happy to report today that the baby is doing very well. She's not broken or having any health issues now. The mother is fine too, quiet to milk and everything, but I have to say, she will never be my favorite.

**Diamond_Y** · 06-19-2008, 03:32 PM

Sometimes you can tell that dairy cows are not bred for their maternal instincts!

DoBeSassy · 06-19-2008, 05:20 PM

I really know nothing about them, but what the heck was she thinking?

Poor baby, glad to hear she is fine

short_kid · 06-19-2008, 05:33 PM

Maybe she thought she was a chicken?

country-mare · 06-19-2008, 05:36 PM

So glad the baby is doing ok.
I agree that some cows are stupid, when it comes to their calves.

Crookedblaze · 06-19-2008, 05:37 PM

LOL short kid.

Poor baby. Mama sounds like she's a few french fries short of a happy meal.

**QuarterCowGirl** · 06-19-2008, 06:27 PM

It just goes to show that there are good mothers and bad mothers all throughout the animal kingdom.

This is the second cow I've come acrossed whose a killer (or a wannabe killer in the case).

I'm just glad I was there when it all happened. If it wasn't vet day, that calf would be dead for sure.

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06-19-2008, 03:28 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,657	Dumb cow This past Tuesday was vet day! Yay! I think I'm actually getting pretty good at it so it's not such a chore anymore. On this particular occasion, I had to mark and sort out 11 cows from the west group and 11 more cows from the east group and then I had to lock up 8 heifers, it wasn't a big day by any means, there's been other times where I had about 50 to mark and sort, so this should have been a piece of cake. However, cow #695 had other plans. You have to understand the lay out of the barn to follow my story.... The west side consists of three sections : Group #1 (cows that have just had babies, cows that we want to keep an eye on, sick cows etc.) This group consists of 8 cows and they reside in the far south west corner. Group #3 In the middle are the cows that have had babies and are a little further along in their lactations. They are anywhere from 60-130 days in milk. About 70 cows are in this group. Dry Cows They are at the far north west corner we have about 20 dry cows there. They stay there until they get bagged up and then they get moved to another part of the barn into a boxstall to have their calves. So on this day, I was busy as a beaver sorting and marking 11 cows in group 2. I glanced over into the dry cow group to see that a baby had been born. The first time mother #695 had bagged up, but not much so she hadn't been moved yet. So I went in there and moved that baby up into a sand stall until I had a moment to move them into the boxstall. I couldn't leave her in the alley as the scrapper was about to start up and that would result in the baby being dragged the length of the entire barn through all three groups - not good. So the baby (a heifer calf by the way) was safe, so I continued on with my sorting and let the momma cow clean her newborn off. After about 20 mins I looked over the gate to see what the baby was doing and I couldn't see her anywhere. I literally flew over the gate and I'm looking around in a frantic manner. The group really isn't that big, where was she? It was at that moment that I saw a little leg coming out from under a cow who laying down, her tag said #695 - the the mother cow! She was laying on top of her baby making momma noises, smothering her baby to death. I freaked out, started yelling and screaming and the idiot finally got up off her baby. The poor baby is now covered in sand gasping for air, can't blame her. Poor thing is maybe 25 mins old and got layed on by her 900lbs dam and had her head buried in the sand. I moved the baby into the cow feed where she'd be safe and then I got the boss to come look after her and the dumb mother. What a stupid, stupid cow. I'm happy to report today that the baby is doing very well. She's not broken or having any health issues now. The mother is fine too, quiet to milk and everything, but I have to say, she will never be my favorite. __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

06-19-2008, 03:32 PM
Diamond_Y Administrator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,680	Sometimes you can tell that dairy cows are not bred for their maternal instincts! __________________ Diamond Y Quarter Horses - Breeders of Quality Foundation Quarter Horses Home of King of Cooke County, 2004 Perlino son of Cooke County ETC

06-19-2008, 05:20 PM
DoBeSassy Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 5,014	I really know nothing about them, but what the heck was she thinking? Poor baby, glad to hear she is fine __________________ There is none so blind as she who will not see

06-19-2008, 05:33 PM
short_kid Started Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 2,068	Maybe she thought she was a chicken?

06-19-2008, 05:36 PM
country-mare Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fred, Texas Posts: 1,425	So glad the baby is doing ok. I agree that some cows are stupid, when it comes to their calves.

06-19-2008, 05:37 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,470	LOL short kid. Poor baby. Mama sounds like she's a few french fries short of a happy meal. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

06-19-2008, 06:27 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,657	It just goes to show that there are good mothers and bad mothers all throughout the animal kingdom. This is the second cow I've come acrossed whose a killer (or a wannabe killer in the case). I'm just glad I was there when it all happened. If it wasn't vet day, that calf would be dead for sure. __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.