Every once in a while, a tiny baby calf is orphaned -this one's mum had a uterine prolapse...which is one of the things I have witnessed that leaves me feeling forever thankful that I am not a cow! So, we have become mummy to this little darling - one of the bays named her Sheila - just TRY to say that name without sounding 'Orstralian'! She can down 2 litres of Calf Pab like a boy can down a beer at a bucks party...that is, all in one gulp, without coming up for air! The clever arrangement she is drinking from is marketed as a 'calfeteria'. I have a chuckle every time I hear that! We haven't had a lot of luck with poddy calves in the past year or two - but this girl's been going from strength to strength since she came home a little over a week ago, so we're confident with lots more drinks from the calfeteria that she'll grow big and strong...how am I ever going to eat a Sheila steak though?! I think she might have to join the breeder herd and be destined to delivering many babies throughout her life...But for now...she's just so cute!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Meet Sheila
Every once in a while, a tiny baby calf is orphaned -this one's mum had a uterine prolapse...which is one of the things I have witnessed that leaves me feeling forever thankful that I am not a cow! So, we have become mummy to this little darling - one of the bays named her Sheila - just TRY to say that name without sounding 'Orstralian'! She can down 2 litres of Calf Pab like a boy can down a beer at a bucks party...that is, all in one gulp, without coming up for air! The clever arrangement she is drinking from is marketed as a 'calfeteria'. I have a chuckle every time I hear that! We haven't had a lot of luck with poddy calves in the past year or two - but this girl's been going from strength to strength since she came home a little over a week ago, so we're confident with lots more drinks from the calfeteria that she'll grow big and strong...how am I ever going to eat a Sheila steak though?! I think she might have to join the breeder herd and be destined to delivering many babies throughout her life...But for now...she's just so cute!
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6 comments:
Marvelous!!!
Thanks! She's such a delight...lots of fun!
I simply want to hug her and smell her 'calfy' smell....
Oh Peta!...might be time for you to visit...another baby joined her this afternoon - don't know if it's the dry or what it is - but Alan brought home a mate for Sheila today - a little man who shall here after be known as Spanky... cute as anyhting!!
Hello Tracey Just perusing your very interesting website. Special thanks for the photo of Sheila. My husband and I have a sheep and cattle property in the far south west Qld and I have fed a miriade of calves. If you have time read The ABC of Calf Rearing
By: Munnerley, Sharyn. I have had much success following her methods. In 2007 we were 2.5 hours every morning feeding over 100 calves with 2 calfeterias and some cordial bottles. And even tho the 'boys' have had to be sold (we topped the sale with them), we have kept the 'girls' for breeders! I fall in love with them all!!! The dry will end one day but I will always have a mix of fond and sad memories of my darling calves. All the best. Wendy
Hi Wendy! Thanks for the book tip...will look into that! We now have 4 Poddy's...Which was making me feel a little sad about how tough it is out there...but 100!! My goodness! That's truckloads of Calf Pab! I feel positively blessed now! They are truly delightful though - make you laugh with their antics, don't they? Hope you find yourselves under some good rain very soon - I guess it's as dry out there as it is here? Thanks for taking time to have a look here and leave me a comment - it's a buzz to hear from people! Warmest regards,
Tracey.
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