The Majesty of Cattle

I have never been one to be in awe of domesticated animals. Cats and dogs are fine, but not really my thing...but the cattle here...there is something holy and awe inspiring about them...yesterday Lukey gave birth to a male calf...a white babe, with little black spots on his middle..he is so soft...and much larger than charlie our jersey calf...he can stand immediately and is a runner...though his legs are a bit wobbly...so yesterday Don, Monica and I went up to the hill pasture...to elastrate our new male(this is a form of castration using a rubber band...a bit less invasive and apparently not as painful). We slowly closed in on him...trying not to startle him...he darted...running into the presence of the large females who surround him...they gathered around him...Lucy, the grandmother, has a solid presence...you can see her guiding Lukey in how to mother...Don grabbed the calf...still nameless...monica grabbed his legs and i held down his head and upper body...he was so frightened...it is a rough way to come into the world...but what struck me was the other cows...these large, lowly beasts have a holiness about them...they stood and watched...their heads very close to mine...Lucy's breath on my neck...her nose touching my hair...to glance up...you are looking into the snouts of 3 very concerned cows...and yet they watched...allowing the unknown to take place...their 1000 lb bodies could crush us instantly...but they trust the hands that feed them...for the first time I felt I understood a bit what it means to be keepers of the animals...They trust though their calf is being held down...they are wise...we finished and he ran into their midst...they gathered around him...nuzzling him...protecting him...holding him close...

Today Lucy delivered a girl...females are the prize on a farm...and Lucy has only ever delivered female calves...she is solid...in a year where we are finding ourselves with 2 bulls...it was a joy to find a small female...a bit less sure footed...not so quick to eat at first but beautiful and strong...her face...boxier then the rest...she was still wet from the birth when we found her...Lucy close by...there is new life again on the farm...and my heart delights...in the middle of July when weeds are over taking crops ...it is good to step away...and see that life is still happening...

Tomorrow we harvest garlic and

The cows are on the hill...majestic in their beings...

(hopefully pictures will come...cattle are a bit tricky to get on camara...the wee ones are a bit skiddish)