Early on a cold winter’s morning, a rancher saddles up to ride the field. Her cows are due to have their calves any day and she must check the herd every few hours for signs of labor and/or delivery. The fog has set in, the frost covers the alfalfa remnants and surrounding trees. The bitter cold air burns in her lungs and gives hint to a long over due snow storm. Still, it’s a beautiful morning.
As she rides the east field while her husband rides the west, the first cow she comes to shows signs a baby will be here soon, maybe a day or two, the second cow isn’t quite close. After being together in pastures with bulls most of the summer, all the calves will come within about a month of each other. Each cow has been “preg-tested” to see which was dry (didn’t catch, or not pregnant), which may deliver first, and which will be “late” (passed the hoped for month). They love to keep the rancher on her toes and come all at once, and usually right in the middle of a snow storm.
Because of air pressure changes, snow storms do tend to help cows “calve” or deliver. The rancher is ever diligent and even in the fiercest blizzard it is vital that she checks her cows. When a calf is born in such freezing conditions, the mother must be on top of things. He must be licked off and suckle soon. If not, he runs the risk of freezing and dying. The rancher checks every 6 hours, night and day, all without complaint. This is of the time of year she waits for! These are some of the moments that make everything worth it. These are also the moments that determine just how much grit a rancher has.
As the rancher checks the tenth cow, she knows it’s just given birth. The mother is standing over a small, dark heap, licking the birthing fluid off and cleaning it. Steam rises off the new little calf as warm air blows from his nose. The rancher knows this one will be ok, and will herd it to the barn in about an hour when the little one is walking.
The cold is starting to seep through the ranchers gloves, but she knows she must keep moving. There’s about 60 heifers she must check this morning. These cows are the first time momma cows. Many will naturally know what they need to do, while others may not pick up on it right away and will need assistance from the rancher. As she comes halfway through the herd, she sees another dark shape on the ground.
As she moves closer, both the mom and the baby are on alert. Most cows trust the rancher enough to know she’s not a threat to their babies. Heifers are still young. Some may be aggressive not knowing what the rancher will do. Each rancher must read the cow before approaching the calf to make sure there isn’t any threat of being charged by the heifer. She’s just protecting her baby, and she has every right to, but the rancher needs to assess the calf for various reasons.
First, each calf receives a new “earring,” or an ear tag. This not only helps people know which rancher owns the calf and gives contact information in case it’s lost; it can also be used to remind the rancher who the mother is. When you get 60 young calves running around the field, it’s not always easy to keep them straight! Obviously, it’s important now and later as we drive and push cows to different fields. Cows move faster than the calves and we must make sure they “mother up” afterwards.
Next, it’s important to check the health and form of the calf. The rancher checks the gender and records whether it is another heifer or a bull. A heifer is a great asset as she can replace an older cow or be sold later to help pay all the cow bills. A bull will later become a steer and be sold. Since steers are generally bigger than heifers, it will bring in more money at the sale. The rancher can rest a little easier knowing the bills may actually get paid this year.
The rancher rides in through the next half of the herd. The sun is starting to rise over the mountain peaks and cast a soft glow on the field. The soft warmth is welcomed and long awaited. The light reveals another calf, yet no movement. The cow has done its job licking the calf clean, but something isn’t right. As the rancher comes closer, she can barely see the rise and fall of the calf’s chest.
Slowly, the rancher slides off her horse and approaches the calf. The mother is tense, watching her every move but she lets the rancher through. A quick assessment of the calf’s nose determines all is clear and its breathing, but the calf is already stiff with cold. She must get this calf inside somewhere warm before the cold completely takes it. Gently, she picks up the 75lb bundle and hoists it onto the saddle in front of her and heads back to the house. The other cows will be checked as soon as she can get this one warm, and she prays no other calves need her as well.
Soon, she sees the smoke from her chimney, ready to warm them both. As the door opens, the rancher's own children rush to meet her, excited to see the calf and, upon seeing its condition, know exactly what to do. They grab blankets, clear a way by the wood burning stove, and make a little bed for it. The rancher lays it down and they all begin rubbing every part of it. They rub continuously until their own arms are warm with exertion but worry and determination keeps them going. After a long while, the calf finally starts to look around. They breathe a small sigh of relief, knowing now there’s a chance it might live.
The rancher then leaves the calf with her children, some still babies themselves, and goes to meet up with her husband and tend to the rest of the herd. Luckily, the rest that were born that night are up and suckling their mothers or running around in the sunlight. Exhausted, she turns back to get breakfast to her own children and focus on the work of being a mother before the next check.
As she does so, she stops beside her husband as they take a minute to soak it all in. The sun, their herd, the coming snow, their brave children back at the house. She takes a deep breath, reminding herself of all of God’s goodness and grace. She knows today she saved a calf but may not be so lucky tomorrow. But for now, she’ll live in the moment, encouraged by the beauty of the land and the hard yet rewarding life she lives. Today is a glorious day, and she’ll live it to the fullest.
