“The calf lay shivering while Ophelia nuzzled and prodded. Before long – twenty minutes, at most – he was trying to stand up. I watched as he’d make his way to kneeling, then waver and crash into straw. Ophelia was patient while he found his balance, his long legs awkward beneath him. Finally he found a teat. Not an hour old and he stood strong on his brand new legs, poking his snout into her. I peered in from behind and saw the seal of his tongue against her skin: a perfect suction cup. It took her the better part of the day to lick him clean. By afternoon, snow was dripping from the barn roof and he lay in the straw in his fluffy black coat, fresh as if he’d just come from beneath a blow dryer.” ~ from “Only Half” by Katie Powers, Taproot Magazine, Issue 14::Wild
In a moment of complete serendipity we stumbled on this much loved article where Katie describes her experience of first time calving and milking. So timely as we await the spring time arrival of Tilly’s and her daughter, Tansy’s calves. Spring and the miracle of new birth… so much to look forward to.
If you, also, happen to stumble upon this wonderful article, we were those ‘dairy kids’ she describes getting on the school bus in the second paragraph 🙂
