At Last of Tatlayoko

Calving usually happens here from April 1 to end of June.  But last year I left the bull in longer than usual and when calving season ended this year there was one cow who hadn't calved but looked suspiciously bred.  So I put her in with the heifers and kept an eye on her.  Eventually her udder grew large and sure enough, a few days ago this appeared:

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As all purebred Highland calves in 2013 should be named with the letter "A" and as this one's mother's name is "Torch Song of Tatlayoko" I think this calf will be called "At Last" after that great Etta James song (a great torch song) and because that's how it feels.  Finished calving at last!

Calf loves being in with "the big girls" and is thriving, thanks to a very good mother and some great genetics.

Miry you must tell your DH he was quite right - the cow WAS bred and had her calf the week after he and Chantecler Eh visited!

Awwww, I just want to run over and hug her! I want to rub my face in that fuzzy forehead! I want to kiss that big wet nose!

Well that's what I thought, and this was her reaction:

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And her mother would DEFINITELY not like it!

What an adorable animal!! Will you call him/her Torchy? What a cutie!

The mother is Torchy, the calf will be At Last - not sure what for short.

Cuteness overload!

Definitely a 'keep your distance' look!

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Thanks!  Of course I have a WHITE 2013 calf called Angel..She was one of the first calves of the year. I'll see if I can find her baby photos - or take an up to date one tomorrow.

They could all be called "Angel", they are all this sweet at a week old!

And aren't those lovely lyrics? Suits her very well!

Here she is amongst some of the calves of 2013, mostly born in April.  Just hanging out.

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Often you can walk right up and touch them for a day or two after they are born, but after that they develop that attitude of touch me not. Somehow I'm never smart enough to do the tattooing and tagging when they are very young. I usually wait until we can enjoy some corral surfing.

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I've always loved the name "Clover" and it is on my list for 2015 (letter "C"). I keep a book of names and write down ones I love as I hear them.

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rosewood wrote:Often you can walk right up and touch them for a day or two after they are born, but after that they develop that attitude of touch me not.  Somehow I'm never smart enough to do the tattooing and tagging when they are very young.  I usually wait until we can enjoy some corral surfing.

So if I can get in the car right away and drive over there still might be time? I guess if I am too late I can participate in the surfing.

Oh my, you have no idea how you are blessed to have cattle. That little one, this touched my heart, oh it made me feel so happy. That look, that look of bewilderment, and "you are not my mamma" came to my mind, "what are you" ? did. Glorious and absolutely fabulous!! Have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.

wondering if this might be a breed that would not give too much milk, for that day when I get my milker cow and can have only enough milk to feed, well, not too many people. I wanna make cheese one day. Can you tell us what the milk production is? Do you milk your cows? I jsut need to know.

Well as you know Cynthia you can milk any cow once she's had a calf. Highlands don't generally have a huge amount of milk, unlike a dairy cow, but it is a very creamy milk - calves are born small so have a lot of growing to do - creamy milk helps that! I don't milk my cows regularly but once in a while I need to help start the udder or get the calf to find a teat and most of the cows are good at standing while I get the milk going. Because there isn't a lot of milk I don't like to deprive the calf of any of it for my use, but I could.

Any good milk cow needs to be handled lots and trained early. Some, in every breed, are temperamentally easier to deal with than others, and with the highlands some have hairier udders than others but even with my dairy cows I have to brush them and wash their udders before milking - and I know some trim or even shave the udders.

The Scots crofters used to keep a Highland cow as their all purpose cow and would milk them regularly as you would a dairy cow. Keep the bull calves as steers for premium beef. So it's been done. And I have met people who still do it.

And yes, I love my cows.

Beware all she tempted me this way   and now I have 2. But it was the baby pictures that lured me in ....

and hooked for life now. I can't wait for my turn in your shoes Heda.

By the by I love the name and the song Etta James had an amazing voice.

Soooooo darn adorable!  What a wonderful surprise 

I also found for the first few days you can walk right up to them. After that, the chase is on.

We have toyed with the idea of milking a few highlands. I have yet to do it, but I hear it is on average 15% cream and naturally homogenized. I cant wait to find out. I have yet to get a heifer out of my Jersey's that I put my highland bull on. They are ALL boys! But I hear that one is about 8-10% cream. Will be very interesting to see how the next few years adds up!

Heda, beautiful calf. I always LOVE seeing the little baby's.