A first for Locks Park…twin heifer calves!
They are the sweetest things and I found myself treating them more like lambs than calves. Luckily they were eager to suck and happy to be helped with the standing-balancing act which was slightly problematic when all your growing has gone into bone with very little muscling. Gwen started calving at around 5 am and finished by 8 am. She’s a very gentle, sweet and attentive mum after the surprise of finding two babies who needed attention.
And for Mary…the promised pictures of my trusty farm-worker – Bobcat!
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March 8, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Jane
So gorgeous! I bet you were excited when you saw “two”. Glad that everything is going well for them. Hey, that bobcat is a beast. I’d love to have a go in that! I’m guessing it makes your life a lot easier. No other way of moving those bales I wouldn’t have thought. (very clean yard!). Jane
March 9, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Beren
Congratulations on the new arrivals! I wonder if they will act differently with each other than with other calves since they are twins….
Love from the three of us….
March 9, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Mopsa
Oooh….are they half the size of the singles? Are they doing well? Is Gwen happy about seeing double? Will they be forever inseparable?
March 9, 2008 at 7:24 pm
mary
Thank you Paula for telling us about the beautiful twin heifer calves. I assume that it is good news financially – am I right in thinking that heifer calves are more valuable than bull calves? You certainly have a lot of new life down there.
And as for Bobcat (I assume he’s a he) with his gaping teeth – wow fearsome – but I imagine he’s a good workhorse. You must have to concentrate when using him – described as a skid steer loader? – sounds very exciting. I was looking them up and see they are really pricey even s/h so hope you keep him well locked up when not in use.
March 9, 2008 at 8:55 pm
paula
I had a couple of ewes lambing at the same time as Gwen was calving. I knew she was having twins as soon as the first calf was born and was sure that the second was going to be mal-presented – over the moon when she managed all by herself!
I am not a mechanical person and don’t like metal much either – it took me quite a time to have confidence on the bobcat, but now I couldn’t be without it and can manage can the minutest moves and manipulations.
I use it every day, and the grab is just one of the implements, there’s a scraper, a bucket and a sweeper.
March 9, 2008 at 9:02 pm
paula
Beren – the biggest congratulations are to Pip and all of you…wow, it’s fantastic news!
They are the cutest things, but not identical – I’ve only just let them out with the rest of the herd so it’ll be interesting to see how they interact.
Heaps of love…
March 9, 2008 at 9:08 pm
paula
Yes, little pint sizes you can practically tuck under your arm. Marmite and Mustard Seed (I’m on ‘m’ this year).
All the cows, and calves, seem quite enchanted by them and I think are allowing them to cross suckle. Haven’t observed enough yet, but herd reaction seems just like ours…wonderment!
March 9, 2008 at 9:27 pm
paula
Heifers are always good to have as you know they generally go for breeding and not meat. Yes, Devon cattle are making good prices at the moment as they happen to be in fashion (long may it last). But obviously heifers not up to the mark for breeding will end up as meat.
Yes, the bobcat’s a fantastic workhorse and a skid steer – you can turn it 360 degrees – but you’d end up loosing a lot of rubber on your tyres! I’m sure they’re expensive now, but I have no idea what as I’ve had mine 2nd hand one for eight years. As for someone taking it – well they’d have to be brave and drive over 1/2 mile down our farm lane with a transporter – bobcats only make about 2 mph – not really the best get away vehicle!