This little guy was born one late July evening. The girls and I were lucky enough to watch from the haystack, arriving on the scene seconds before he did. I wasn't lucky enough to have a camera with me at the time, however.
His mama is pretty new to the ranch. No one knew she was pregnant when she got here, so her bull calf was an unexpected present. I think I'll call him Leroy.
LeRoy and Mama are Beefmasters, a hardy breed made up of Hereford, Brahman and Shorthorn cattle. They get their big droopy ears and their fleshy jowls from the Brahman breed which are weird and wonderful cattle. And sometimes the male Beefmasters develop a small version of the Brahman's hump on the shoulders, making them look extra fierce.
We'll have to wait to see how Leroy develops. For now, he's just cute and clueless.
Daryl, the irony is that as long as Leroy lives at the ranch and is a good boy he won't be dinner. When the amount of grass won't support the herd and some must be sold, someone else makes dinner of them, but never us. They have the best possible bovine lives here that they could ask for. Zero stress, plenty to eat, and no pesky cowboys herding them all the time. : )
Posted by: foolery | September 04, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Mantel Man, why did you think you were invited at Thanksgiving? I have the steak knives all ready for you.
Posted by: foolery | September 04, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Debbie, his mama also has a huge @$$ like MINE.
Posted by: foolery | September 04, 2011 at 02:04 PM
is he gonna be dinner some day? gah .. so glad i dont eat meat
Posted by: Daryl | September 04, 2011 at 09:39 AM
Will the kids get to witness Leroy's castration? Grandpa might need someone to hold the utensils for him.
Posted by: Mantel Man | September 04, 2011 at 07:27 AM
Most kids do not get to witness anything like this and they all should!! How wonderful!
Leroy is a cutie! His mama has a wrinkled neck like mine LOL
Posted by: Debbie | September 04, 2011 at 06:12 AM
The cows are my dads, Gramps -- he keeps about two full-grown bulls and cycles them every couple of years to keep the herd progressing and not getting inbred. If this little guy is a good one Dad will keep him, for a while anyway.. Some he castrates and raises as steers, selling them at auction when he needs to lighten the herd. Buyers then buy them and finish fattening the steers for stocking their freezers. I try not to get too attached because its just too sad.
Thanks for reading!
Laurie
Posted by: foolery | September 03, 2011 at 08:12 AM
That's what my Kids say about me---"cute and clueless"
So, if he develops right, will you use him as a breeder? (or whatever you call those guys)
Posted by: gramps | September 03, 2011 at 06:14 AM
Oh Deb, I wish I had had the camera that evening, but at least the kids got to witness the birth. Second time for both of them. It never gets old. : ) Thanks for reading!
Posted by: foolery | September 02, 2011 at 02:24 PM
love that you have your own 'farm' critters in fooleryland.. <3 you and keep that camera with you girl!
Posted by: deb@simpleplate | September 02, 2011 at 12:25 PM