Newborn calf adorably takes its first steps to find her mother's milk

Born on a sunny day in May, on this beautiful farm in Millbrook, Ontario, Fiona the calf has entered the world just a few moments ago. She is taking it all in and looking around in bewilderment. She has never seen the blue sky, the green grass, or her loving mother's face. These are all new sights and her eyes are wide. But instinct somehow tells her that the large animal that is hovering over her protectively is her mother and will take care of her.Show more

Instinct also tells her that her belly is empty and that her mother can provide her with milk to satisfy her hunger.
This little calf's first steps are adorably clumsy. She can barely get her legs under her and hardly has the balance to stand on them once she does get to her feet. She wobbles like a drunken sailor and manages to keep her balance as her mother licks and cleans her.

Fiona doesn't waste much time in finding Edna's udder and latching on for a big drink. The first milk is the most important, as it provides Fiona with colostrum, and an essential supply of antibodies that will later keep Fiona healthy and free from infections.

Life for Fiona will be a good one. She lives on what is known as an ethical farm. This is a small, family run operation where they refuse to produce veal. They look after the cows properly and place a much higher emphasis on herd health than on profit. Calves are not separated from their mothers and they even use a real bull, named Gus, instead of artificial insemination. They don't produce milk, so the calves get every drop that the mothers produce. The calves roam free and graze on fresh grass, until the weather and the snow force them to be kept in a warmer shelter.
Life on this farm is as close as possible to what nature intended. Fiona will live a long and happy life here, as will Edna.

Farms like these are not hard to find and consumers will be doing the cows and their community a favor by supporting those farmers who are doing things right.