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Madison and I headed out to the near paddock, this morning, to check on the cattle.  When we arrived at the old shade tree, we found most of the cattle resting contently.  All but two were enjoying the shade – Caitlin and another.  Caitlin was seemingly consuming some grass on a hillside and the other was simply heading to the waterer.  Within a few minutes, Caitlin was back under the tree, with the others.

We ‘made nice’ with the tame cattle, as well tried our best to tame the cows and calves that showed interest in us.  This morning, Madison brought a brush with her.  She did her best to get Mey, a heifer calf, to stand still long enough to brush.  She then brushed Eldorado, our 1500 lb bull.  He seemed to enjoy the attention as the brushing relieved him from the constant annoyance of biting flies.  Unfortunately, as soon as Madison stopped brushing, the flies were quick to come back and land on Eldorado’s back.  Tis the season.  During these days of hot humid days, often hitting heat index temps of 105-120°F, the flies compound the discomfort the cattle endure.

Content with the fold’s well-being, we were about to leave the cattle and their shade tree when we witnessed Caitlin take-off (almost in a run) to the location we first saw her – on the hill.  As she was “moo-ing” in motion, we could see something gray.  It looked like an injured coyote.  I was thinking, “Oh my gosh!  This 16 yr old cow was going to finish off a coyote – one she must have wounded earlier.”

But out-loud, I asked what the animal was.  I then murmured the question, “Is that what I think it is?  I think it’s a little calf.”  And the race was on.  Madison and I were hell-bent on getting to the calf ASAP.  Yep!  Caitlin had herself a baby.

Here is Caitlin, our 16 yr old cow with here newborn bull calf

A couple days ago, I noticed that Caitlin was a little “loose” in back, but quickly discounted the notion as ‘wishful thinking.’  Personally, I thought she was getting too old to calf.  In fact, as a family, we had talked about bringing this old cow into the processor this fall, but wanted to wait until after the month of August.  September was [mathematically] the month she could not have a calf anymore.  Cattle have a 9 month gestation period and the bull we leased, last summer, would have been gone 10 months earlier.

This little bull calf is small… even for a Highlander.  He might weigh 35-40 lbs.  We did the math – this calf was born a week early.  We had Caitlin’s last heat cycle recorded at Oct. 20-21st.  That would put her due date on or about the last weekend of July.  We noticed the calf has a slight ‘wobble’ in his hind-left leg.  We’re hoping it is an issue that will correct itself and it was simply a result of his early delivery.  We should know more in the next couple of days.

As of today, we do not have a name for this little guy.

UPDATE:  We have named the calf Mac Tire.  The Irish Gaelic word for wolf is Mac Tire, meaning literally the Son of the Country(side) or Son of the Land.

Related posts:

1. Our First Calf Arrived Early
2. Our New Silver Highland Calf
3. Back To Normal