Class of 2025!

We had a long (for us) but incredible calving season stewarded by Whitney with care and her attentive spirit. We have nine new members of the herd- 4 females and 5 males. Be sure to follow along on instagram next week to help us name the new babies - we will be polling in stories! Here is Whitney's summary of the arrival of the newest members of the herd:

Belle and Baby Boy: Our first born came two weeks early on Saturday 3/22 from first time mama Belle. Our preemie baby boy is small but happy and healthy and adjusting to life with the herd and his mama is doing amazing in her new role.

Stella and Baby Girl: Seasoned mom Stella welcomed her second calf, a beautiful heifer, on March 27th. Our first heifer calf needed a bit of help adjusting to breathing air but once she was on her feet she has been a little firecracker. She has earned the nickname "moon cookie" for her distinctive black and white markings. 

Daisy and Baby Boy:  Daisy faced a potentially risky delivery due to the calf's awkward position, but she proved her strength and determination by delivering a healthy bull calf on March 28th all on her own. Her sister and daughter provided moral support during the birth. Her baby boy is a rambunctious little thing who loves to play with the other calves.

Freyia and Baby Girl: A first time mom, Freyia is a natural! She labored between our regular checks so Nolan found her on the brink of birth! She delivered her baby in the yard like a pro with a little assistance from Nolan. She's proving to be a protective and vocal mother, always keeping a close eye on her thriving calf. A Murray Grey x British White cross, she is our ideal hybrid cow and gorgeous to boot! They are now out with the herd and Freyia has proven to be a devoted mama, rarely far from her baby.

Camilla and Baby Boy: Second-time mom Camilla had a smooth and easy delivery on April 2nd, welcoming a purebred Murray Grey calf into the world. It was a cold and windy night so I spent a lot of time coming back to dry off and warm up baby and make sure they were nursing a lot to bring Camilla's milk in and keep baby warm through the rain in the early hours.  Baby boy is very energetic, zooming around, and mom and baby are nursing well and enjoying their bonding time together.

Clara and Baby Girl: Clara grunted and groaned and looked generally over being pregnant for weeks leading up to her due date. The morning of she didn't have any obvious signs to set her apart from the rest of the pregnant moms. We found her in active labor at the 6pm check and she had a quick and easy delivery out in the yard with Bryce supervising. She cleaned off her baby and they bonded well. Her little girl is almost white, long legged, and chatty like her mama!

Juniper and Baby Boy: First-time mom Juniper faced a challenging delivery due to the calf's large head and tight fit, but with some assistance, she successfully delivered a healthy baby boy on April 4th.  Once her baby boy was out he needed a little help clearing the fluid from his lungs but was up in a normal amount of time and Juniper was a good instinctual mom, cleaning him off vigorously and generally being attentive. She is a vocal cow, mooing nonstop for the first few days letting the world know all about her big baby boy. 

Violet and Baby Boy: Violet required assistance during delivery again this year and was initially slow to bond with her calf.  After about 18 hours and 5 or 6 hour long feeding sessions and lots of wet towels, baby boy hopped up, went over to mama, and started nursing.  They figured out nursing, she claimed him, and they have bonded well. She is a good mama and they're settling in well back with the herd.

Doe and Baby Girl: Doe had us waiting until the last moment! Her signs of gearing up for labor are so subtle that she has surprised me with a baby already on the ground for the last two years, and this year was no exception. Her British White baby girl was clean, up securely on her feet, and  nursing all within 13 minutes from birth! A big baby, very well developed and strong, she was prancing around soon after. Doe is a great mom, very protective and attentive Doe continues to be a pillar of our herd, demonstrating her wisdom and strength as a mother and leader. Beef cattle are amazing!

Thank you Whitney for your leadership through another successful calving season, and we wish you the best on your next adventures!

We are looking for someone to fill Whitney's muck boots; read the job description here!