Mother cow lovingly urges calf to get up for a drink

2 years ago
12.7K

Millie is a devoted mother who has given birth to a few calves in the past 6 or 7 years. A seasoned mother, she knows the routine now and she also knows how to care for her babies well. Millie has been grazing all day and her udders are producing more than enough milk for Jessie, her calf. She is growing uncomfortable with the heavy load and she encourages Jessie with a loving shower of licks and gentle nudges. This tells Jessie that rest time is over and that it's time for her to get to her feet and get some milk.

Jessie obeys her mother after trying to sleep some more. She reluctantly gets up and nurses happily. This will go on every few hours until Jessie is about 4 months old. She will then start to rely more on grazing and finding her own food in the pasture.
This is an ethical beef farm in Millbrook, Ontario. The cows here live a wonderful life, roaming many acres of lush, green meadow and exploring forested areas where they have ample shade. They even have ponds full of fresh water to drink from.

It's life as close to what nature intended for these gentle beasts. Jessie is a spring calf who is just a few days old. She has been exposed to nothing but kindness from the farmers who run this small operation. As with the other cows, this has created trust and she seeks affection from anyone who visits. Millie is an especially friendly cow and her baby will learn that the people here will not harm them. Millie grazes contentedly as Jessie nurses away. Millie has enjoyed a good life here and she will stay here much longer, well into her golden years.

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