I love it when you can re-unite a momma with her baby. My task was to go move two pair out of the riparian area (it’s a major no no for cattle to be in this area) and into one of the adjoining pastures. Seems the momma’s had escaped thru one of the water gaps with all the recent rains. I saddled up Studley Dudley and off we went with our small task to complete. The first pair took off running when they saw me and then another cow joined them in the run. The mesquite was thick and I am wondering where on earth is second the calf. The pair and the lone cow took off across the dirt road and upto the fence line of one of the pastures. I followed to make sure I knew which direction they where going hoping they were headed toward the closer gate. Then I circled back to look for the calf - thinking well maybe momma has her stashed under a tree for a morning nap. But no sign of the calf. I go back to the cows thinking maybe she’s dry and doesn’t have a calf. Nope she’s got a big full udder. Then I notice momma is near the fence line bellowing out to all the cows and calves in the pasture as if she really has a lot to say but one little calf seems somewhat interested in her bellowing. So, I think well if I move momma down the fence line maybe her baby may follow and then I’ll know for sure if it’s her baby. I try to herd momma toward the other pair and she wants nothing to do with moving away from this particular spot on the fence line. So, I have at least confirmed her calf is on the other side of the fence. Of course, there is not gate nearby and I’ve got to move her down the fence line. Finally, after much conversing with momma – the baby calf follows momma down the fence line. The calf had to cross a ravine which was difficult for the little bugger but he managed – Studley Dudley was incredibly tired of the ravine since he got to cross it multiple times on his side of the fence in the process. I got to the gate, go off and opened the gate, remounted and pushed the pair & caring momma thru the gate!
