Not bad for an older cow that due to her age was slated for the auction barn. She and her sister are the last of cross bred line that we have been phasing out. With a good bull and strong Charlois on her side this makes for nice meat animal.
Isn't it kinda late in the season for calves? I thought that was a Spring thing. That is a sweet little calf.
Calf season is a man made event, a lot of AI is used now days. In nature, calves if born late, would die in the cold seasons. OTOH some breeds can and do produce year round in the right climates as long as the food is there. We have totally dumbed down the survival rates should anything happen in our world. MILK cows are tailored to produce milk only. In the wild a milk cow is at a disadantage because the udder is so large they have a tough time escaping even yard dogs that have gone wild. OTOH Deer and their off spring escape easily. Nature works best when you leave it alone. Llama's breed and then hold the sperm till food conditions allow a healthy baby. Nature at its best and man can still survive using these animals. Between the economist and the tree huggers nature doesn't stand a chance. Welcome to the wild new ride in this new world.
You know how you learn something new everyday.... well my mouth fell open and what???? Really? How can llama's know coming food conditions? I am now going to have to go research llamas. Never cared much cause they spit and I am not sure what else to do with them. Occasionally I see this guy walking down the road with his llama loaded with packs.
Llamas are one of the most interesting animal that I have ever encountered. Smart, to a point that is way beyond what you might think. Good pack animal, food source and the best wool in the world. A survival weapon with feet. The spitting is a pecking order management tool. With experience you teach them how to live with you or maybe it's the other way around. I adopted a Llama with a bad habit of spitting, then I figured out that a kid from the Llama's back ground had taught the Llama some bad habits. the Llama and I had a close up meeting, after that he only spit on other Llamas. Soft packs and frames are the way to go. Mine were killed in a natural disaster, still have the packs and frames. Maybe more llamas in my future.
