A Ranch Kidnapping

Yesterday morning, our herdsman and I were running around the ranch trying to kick some pregnant ladies out to pasture, but we got sidetracked when we noticed something was up in the Beef pasture. We watched one beef cow separate herself from the herd by running towards the north side of the pasture while she was bawling and very much in distress. FYI - it's not normal for one of the cows to completely separate herself from the herd like that. We knew something had to be up, and since we had two mamas drop calves this week, so we assumed the worst. What's the worst, you ask?

We have a ditch/watering hole that runs through the north side of our Beef pasture, and the last time we saw the newest calf which was the night before, it was pretty darn close to the cliff that dropped 5 feet into the water below. Yesterday morning, the mama Beefer ran all the way to the edge of the cliff and stood, bawling for her calf.

What immediately goes through our heads??

"Oh no, the calf got up and fell over the cliff into the water, and she's drowned."

After further investigation, we discovered the bawling mama was indeed having a cow over her calf.

Good news?

It didn't fall into the water!

It didn't drown!

Woo!

If only the saga came to an end right there...

During the night, we gained a third newborn heifer calf. The third calf this week. I was not aware that this was apparently our fall calving season. I'm guessing Chico (the Angus Bull) got a lot of work done approximately 280 days ago.

Anyways, the wigged out mama had given birth to the newbie the night before across the ditch when the herd was cooling off in the water. When the herd moved back to the south side of the pasture later in the night/early morning, mama Beefer left her calf behind on the other side of the ditch, resulting in a distressed mama yesterday morning, and a lonely calf. The calf is not strong enough nor large enough to cross the 3 foot deep watering hole, resulting in its mom leaving it behind to graze with the herd.

What happens next?

Cowgirl Kate and Joe to the rescue!!

There is no way for a vehicle to cross the ditch in the pasture besides going around the north side of the pasture by taking the city road. So, we took the 4-wheeler on the road, with me holding on for dear life on the back.

Of course, in true Ramblin' Cowgirl fashion, I took plenty of pictures on the trusty camera phone.

Joe had me stay back on the 4-wheeler, so he could sneak up and then crawl to the sleeping calf. The last thing he wanted to have happen was for the calf to get up and run off scared when we came at it with the Wheels of Death.

When Joe had successfully sneaked up and trapped baby girl, he had me drive around and back up as close as I could get to the calf without having the 4-wheeler drop off the ledge into the water.

As per usual, the next thing that happens is that Joe does that hard lifting, while I take pictures.

Look at her cute little face!! Now, if only it was over...

You see, mamas, of any species, get very protective over their kin. Beef cows are no exception. In fact, they are rather crazy. We had a 1500 pound (give or take a few hundred pounds) mama cow jump over a 5 foot gate a few weeks ago when we were deworming the herd.

Needless to say, this mama was not pleased when we began to drive off with her beautiful girl. As I'm on the back of the 4-wheeler holding down the calf with its legs kicking everywhere, including Joe's back, we're both crossing our fingers and praying to the high heavens that mama cow doesn't try to jump over the gate or barb wire fence onto the road in order to chase after the her baby's kidnappers. I watched her cross the watering hole and race towards the fence in a fury as we sped down the road and got back onto the ranch property. It took us about 2-3 minutes to get back around to the pasture, and luckily, we were greeted by happy mama.

Reunited!

I think Mama cow will forgive Joe and I for kidnapping her girl.

And they lived happily ever after...