G is for Gestation

Just like humans, a cow must have a baby before producing milk.

It takes 283 days from conception to calf. Humans gestation period is about 280 days. Very similar!

Two to three months before a calf is born we stop milking the mama. This gives her body the opportunity to rest and to put all her efforts into growing a strong and healthy baby.

After, the calf is born she or he is removed from the mom. We are not doing this to be mean; just the opposite. We do this for the protection of the calf. The calf is closely monitored, and receives colostrum (mom's first milk) to get baby's immune system up and running. Also, not all mom's are cut out to be good mothers. It is not uncommon for some cows to ignore their calves.

The newborn calves on Bremer farms are bottle fed twice each day. We can observe how and also how much each calf is drinking. Just like people, a loss of appetite is a sign something isn't quite right.

For the first three months, our calves live in individual pens. They move around freely, we can monitor their health and eating, and they stay warm and dry in the winter, and cool in the shade during the summer. Some farms have outdoor, dome shaped calf hutches for each calf. Our farm has a solar building that houses 30 individual calf pens.

Judging by the kisses Sara is getting, I feel confident our calves are happy and well cared for!

Our Herd Increases

There is a baby boom at Bremer Farms!

We have had 28 calves born in 26 days.

 Each calf weighs about 90 pounds and can stand and walk, all within minutes of being born. Our newborn calves are fed colostrum, which is the first milk from the mama cow. Calves receive colostrum within hours of birth to receive antibodies from their mom, which protect them against disease in their early life. During the cold winter months each calf is outfitted with a coat to help them stay warm and comfortable.

 Like snowflakes, no two calves have exactly the same pattern of spots. This little cutie, although red and white is still a Holstein. Typically Holstein cows and calves are black and white, however the red and white Holsteins are a product of recessive genes. Do you see the black spot to the right of this calf? That's her calf coat...the coat that is supposed to keep her warm. Yep, this little stinker shimmied out of it, but not for long. After this picture was taken, she was bundled up again. We want our babies to be comfy!

Speaking of increasing the herd-

Here is the newest additions to my "indoor" herd. Since we live on a dairy farm, cows just keep appearing! Family and friends see them, and before you can say "Moo" they are in my hands. You see, if you know me, you know I love cows, and sometimes it's nice to enjoy the kind you don't have to feed or clean-up after! Thanks to church friends Turney and Ruth, co-worker Barb, and cousin Alex for the new bovines!