Loving moment between cow and newborn calf will melt your heart

Cows are among the most gentle animals in the world. Despite their immense size, they are peaceful and sweet in their disposition. They have a soulful face and big, endearing eyes that tug at your heartstrings. Calves are even more beautiful and endearing. Clumsy and playful, they are a joy to watch. Their inquisitiveness is irresistible.

This calf is less than one day old. He was born on a sunny spring day on a beautiful farm near Millbrook, Ontario. The cows on this farm roam free on a lush green meadow with rolling hills, a pond for drinking from and trees all around. They have acres of fresh grass and more pasture than they can possibly eat. The farmers are attentive and caring, making sure the cows are as healthy and happy as can be.

Iris is an extremely proud and loving mother. Her calf is resting in the long grass, taking a break from nursing and learning to walk and run on his brand new legs. Iris stands over her baby protectively and licks his head and face in the most loving way imaginable. She stops for a moment and her calf looks up at her as if in awe and wonder, waiting for the bath to continue. He's clearly in heaven with all the attention from his mom.

Iris goes back to licking her baby and showering him with love. It's heart warming to see a mother so proud and so attentive with a newborn. Cows lick their young to promote bonding, to show affection, and also for grooming. Cleanliness is important for this calf in order to discourage harmful insects and also to remove the smells that would attract the attention of predators. In the first hour after being born, a calf will already be able to walk and even run, but it will take a few weeks for them to gain enough balance and strength to run away from predators. During this time, the mother will not venture farm from her baby. She will always be ready to defend the calf if needed. Even the other cows in the herd will protect the offspring of another cow. They will show affection and provide protection very readily.

Watching an interaction like this is not only enough to melt your heart; it is a demonstration of the cow's capacity for emotion and love. We often underestimate this ability in animals, yet it is undeniable if we only open our eyes to see it.