Boundaries are an important thing.

Our cow had a traumatic birth this go round.  It effected her more than I realized.

I sent 2 of my daughters out to handle the baby, since this needs to be done at an early age so they trust humans, and the mother butted them.  This is a tame cow, handled all her life, and her heifer was not in any danger.  I ran down to check on things and to make sure every one was okay and she butted me in the knee so hard my knee is sprained.

A good reminder at how dangerous animals can be, even when they are trained.  Every one is okay.

That night I sat outside just observing my cows.  The quiet helps me to think and the quiet helps me to remember.    Cows fight, cows get along... Cows are cows.  It was an interesting day.

The next morning, I went to the milking parlor to milk the other cows, and she was waiting at the gate for "her turn".  I did my chores, and when it was her turn, I opened the gate.  I cannot move quickly on account of my sprained knee... and if I did not know her so well, I would not have trusted her.  But she is a good cow.  Something was not right before and she was communicating like a cow... with her head and 400+ lbs.

I opened the gate and she went in and jumped on the stanchion.  Nibbled at her pellets.... baby moooooed.  I stayed out of the way.  Mama stayed.  I did not fasten her to the stanchion.  I brushed her and washed her like the routine goes.  Baby mooooooed again.   I stepped out of the way...mama went back to baby.  So that was the end of that day.  No one got hurt.. no one was mad.  Cows don't get mad at each other.  They move on...but they only move on if the boundaries are respected.  She was fearful for her baby.

The next day, she was waiting again... just like always.... she was not nervous or upset... but did keep looking back to her baby.  When it was her turn, we did it again.  This time I hobbled up on my hurt leg and snapped her in.  went through the whole routine... and even milked out a quart of milk, not to make her dry.  Baby never mooooed, but mama stayed calm.  I unclipped her... and fed her in her pen.  Mama cow introduced her to the cows in the next pen.. then let me touch the baby.  What a difference a day makes.