An eleven year old cow gave birth to twin bull calves late in the afternoon yesterday, the first around 5PM and the second about 5:30PM. The last time the ranch had twins was in the year 2000 to a cow some of us know as Peaches.
Both calves full-term sized but the cow was misplacing one, a common phenomenon, I think the cow can’t believe what she’s done or it’s too much to process in her bovine brain.

We decided the second smaller calf hadn’t eaten when we went after dinner to tag and check on the herd. He was again a considerable distance from his dam and larger sibling. Mark and I needed to get the new family threesome to the barn. We managed after considerable time and effort finishing just before dark evening.

The little guy, whose front ankles are a bit stiff and broken over (a syndrome that will correct itself within a few days of life) walked along behind the cow and the older larger calf calling out to his mom. What a little trooper! Mark and I loaded the smaller calf (black white face) in the Gator. As the cow and larger calf (black) walked across the pasture and to the bridge before the larger calf just was too pooped to continue. Off came my belt and around the black boys heart-girth and Mark carried the front half , struggling to get him to the barn. He made it from the bridge to the top of the hill before pooping out (and we were as well) to continue. So after getting mom (W23) in the barn pen went back to get the bigger black calf in the barn pen using the gator.

Out went the big fellow at the barn. The little calf got up and jumped (fell) out and ravenously wanted to nurse, so I assisted him and got some colostrum (cows first milk).

The photo above was taken after Mark and I were both completely pooped but mission accomplished at getting the three to a barn pen. As you can see by the look of my jeans, the older calf is already pooping nicely!!! All was fine in the barn pen in the morning. Keep the three at close hand and in small pens/pastures for a week or two to be sure all in working smoothly for them all before returning them to the larger herd.

The coyotes have been around a lot too, so don’t want an unattended calf left alone during one of their forays should the cow be finding it difficult to be in two places at once.