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Post by oliverman on Sept 5, 2016 23:55:12 GMT -5
We had a calf that was a bit smaller than usual from a young cow, so they have been in a pen in the barn for the last several days to bond (not all cows realize right away that they need to pay attention to their calf and take care of it). Since they are right there, the children have started making a pet out of it and began training it to lead on a halter. A calf this size is just perfect for a 3 year old.  |
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Sept 6, 2016 10:16:09 GMT -5
Uh oh! I hope they know it's name is T-bone.
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 6, 2016 18:28:45 GMT -5
Talk about bonding! Your kids may end up having some serious discussions with you.
They are sure cute- those two!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 19:13:45 GMT -5
I see 4H and Calf Shows at the Local Fairs in your future!
It's great training for the calf and your children. Lucky!!
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Post by oliverman on Sept 7, 2016 20:27:13 GMT -5
gulfcoastguy , this calf is actually named "Smidget," because of her small size. The kids do know where the meat on their plates comes from though. Smidget is destined to be a brood cow, an most likely a 4-H project in a few years as well. As a side note for the northern Illinois folks, my sisters have some cows at the Sandwich Fair, so you might even see me there if you are part of the swarm of folks that attend there.
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Post by lisaann on Sept 10, 2016 7:56:58 GMT -5
Is the pattern on the cow typical?
I never saw a cow with one white stripe right around the middle, and at a quick glance, it looks like she is cut in half.
The black and white cows I see are usually splotchy white and black, like paint splatters.
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Post by oliverman on Sept 10, 2016 21:43:51 GMT -5
lisaann, this is a Dutch Belted calf. This is the typical color pattern. Some have white on the feet and occasionally one has a spot in the belt, but those are considered undesirable and selected against.
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Post by lisaann on Sept 11, 2016 7:52:52 GMT -5
Aha! That is interesting.
When they have a spot in the belt:
and considered undesirable, what else must be wrong with them? Does the spot indicate that they are sickly? Or something else like the breeding is faulty?
Sorry, can't ask my question properly.
I'll try a search.
www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/dairy/33/dutch-belted/overview/
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy now lists Dutch Belted as on the critically rare breeds of livestock in the North America, with fewer than 200 registered cattle in the country.
Gee.............................
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Post by oliverman on Sept 11, 2016 21:47:08 GMT -5
Irregular color markings don't have any relationship to health or productive value. It is simply a cosmetic matter. If it weren't for deliberate selection for the belted marking, that unique color pattern would gradually disappear.
Yes, they are quite rare. Not as much so as 20 or so years ago though. At that time, dad probably had close to half of the living individuals in the US. He also was a primary source of genetic stock to restore a breeding population in the Netherlands, where they originated. Interestingly, some of the first individuals brought to the US were imported by P.T. Barnum for his novelty collection.
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Post by Mumsey on Oct 24, 2016 7:27:00 GMT -5
oliverman How is that little calf doing? Probably grown into a cow by now!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 12:37:56 GMT -5
oliverman, I am familiar with Belted Galloways which are a beef breed. There was a small herd near our place years ago. I wasn't aware that there was a Dairy breed with the belt. Thanks for enlightening me.
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Post by oliverman on Oct 26, 2016 8:18:24 GMT -5
Mumsey, she is doing well. No, not a full grown cow. I will try to get a new picture one of these days. Between harvest and fall crop planting I have been pretty busy. Only a few more acres of soybeans and I should be done.
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Post by lisaann on Feb 12, 2017 19:57:32 GMT -5
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Post by oliverman on Mar 17, 2017 22:36:32 GMT -5
I should get another picture sometime. She is often volunteers to enter the maternity pens when we are sorting cows that are soon to calve from the rest of the herd. Very friendly, but sometimes a bit inconvenient.
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