MOTHER'S DAY

 Published in the Intermountain Farm and Ranch, May 6, 2011

       Mother’s Day is probably my least favorite day of the year. I have never felt that I was a good mother, and hate listening to all the accolades paid to mother’s that are wonderful, knowing I don’t measure up. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children and would do anything for them, but I don’t feel that I set a very good example for them to follow. A few years ago we had a special incident on Mother’s Day that made me realize the love that animal mothers have for their young. That incident has caused me to view Mother’s Day differently.



A newborn calf with it's mom.



Moving the cattle to spring/summer range is not always easy. The upper pasture we take them to is twenty miles from where they have spent the winter. We used to trail them up, but have found it is less labor intensive to haul them in trucks. The cows and calves need to be separated, as we take the cows in one trailer, the calves in another. Making sure the pairs get there the same day is the goal. And usually we meet that goal. Boyd has a little red book where he keeps the record of the numbers of the ear/brisket tags for all cows and calves. As the animals are loaded onto the trailers, that book is checked.

A couple of years ago we ran into a problem. When the last load of cows was dropped off at the upper pasture, we noticed one cow from an earlier load standing by the gate, calling for her calf. That in itself is not unusual because the calves and cows have to find each other after they are unloaded. Checking around, everything else seemed to be okay: fences up; gates shut; feed and water available. 

However, here in the valley we heard a calf bellering all night long for his mother. That is a sad sound. The next morning we were sure a mistake had been made as there was also one cow that had a full udder and she was adding to the noise level. Taking his little red book out, Boyd walked through the remaining cows. Sure enough, we had a cow and calf that didn’t belong to each other. 

            That was a Sunday morning, Mother’s Day at that. Deciding to take the mismatched cow and calf to the upper pasture after church, we commenced to do what needed to be done and attended our meeting. As we approached home after church, there was a cow walking on the road toward us. And she wasn’t just meandering, stopping to eat grass, etc. She was walking as though she had a strong incentive to get to her goal. Turning into our lane just ahead of our car, she went straight to the gate leading into the pasture. Just standing there mooing, her calf came running from the back pasture. All it took for us to do was open a gate for cow and calf to be reunited. Who said that cows or for that manner any animal, don’t love their little ones, that they don’t have feelings and emotions. We certainly watched the display of love that morning.

After we ate dinner we loaded the cow and calf plus the other cow whose calf was at the ranch, into the stock trailer to take them to the summer pasture. When we arrived, there by the loading chute was a calf crying for its mother. And its mother started answering its cries before we had turned the pickup off.  They were all unloaded and off went a happy mom with her little one beside her, and a happy reunion for the other cow and calf.

            And to think this happened on Mother’s Day, a day that we honor our mothers and all they have done for us.  Has your mother walked twenty miles all night to find you?