I suppose this really isn’t that same as sending your babies off to school for the first time, but it does strike a cord in a mom’s heart.
The kids (calves) were so scared they were trembling. But hard as it is, it must be done. Cows are terrible about never weaning their babies. I have seen calves as old as a year old still nursing, another younger calf nursing on the same mother and the mom pregnant with another calf. Weaning the baby just doesn’t seem to happen in cow world.
Cows are the true “earth mother”, and hard as it is, babies do need to grow up.
In the strain of trying to follow the babies this cow broke the top fence by trying to jump over it-Bad Cow!
Life on a Colorado Farm 
We recently weaned some pigs. We were expecting it to be a big deal. We reinforced gates and the fence expecting the sows and babies to try to get to each other. The sows couldn’t have seemed to care less and almost seemed relieved. (It could have been partly because they were able to feast on acorns where we put them.) The piglets paced the fence a little, but were happy too.
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Ohhhh, she wanted her baby so bad. So I wonder, do cows taht are wild range cows (are there still any?) do any better at weaning.
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and I forgot to say…I do like your stories and think you should include them. If someone dosn’t want to read them they can skim or skip. I however…read them! (O: I have a journel from my Grandfather (hand written) It is cool. I always think I will write something using it. I am lazy I guess. Things I want to do that just don’t seem to get done.
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Weaning is always hard for me as well…..I always feel sad for the little guys even though I know it’s necessary. They will certainly drag down a cow if you let them.
Hope things get better quickly 🙂
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If I remember correctly we seperated them and the cows would call for them..Moo mornfully..they will do just about anything to get to them:)
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I never knew cows were so attached to their babies. It must be hard for you but as you said, it has to be done. I enjoyed the pictures.
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Awww…poor little calves and poor Mommies! But, I know it has to be done. It’s interesting to learn that they are so slow to wean on their own.
Marie
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