Ranch Life: Calving Season in Kansas

Many probably wonder what being a rancher is all about. What do they do all day? And the reality is, the day-to-day job is really quite simple…ensuring the health and safety of their animals 24/7.

So, you could say it is just as simple as being a mother.

To which any mother would say, being a mom is hard! It isn’t simple at all!?!?

Exactly!

Ranching is a lot of work. It is a lot of time. It is a lot of money. It is a lot of worry. Honestly, it is a lot of a-whole-lotta-things! (Sound familiar?)

Ranching has many similarities to motherhood. The largest of which being that each mother (rancher) does the job differently, but we all have the same, most important, end goal: happy, healthy kids (animals).

Every season has different responsibilities, and this time of year, is one of my favorite times…it’s calving season!

Calving is when a cow delivers a baby. Calving season is when a ranchers cows are delivering. Cattle have a nine-month gestation just like we do and only have one baby at a time (twins and triplets are possible, but rare, just like for us).

During calving season, the heifers live at our house. {A heifer is a first time mom. When a calf is born it is either a bull calf (baby boy) or a heifer calf (baby girl). A heifer will be called a heifer until she has her first calf, after which, she will become a cow.} Because it is their first baby, they need a little extra attention sometimes, so we keep them in the pastures right by our house so we are there if they need us.

Now on one hand, I think that calving is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Because there truly isn’t anything cuter than a newborn calf. But, just like all wonderful, magical things that happen here at the ranch, it comes with a lot of hard work and worry, and calving is certainly no exception.

Remember when you had your hubby had with your first baby and all the questions that went through your heads over and over?

When will my water break?

Will we be rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night?

Will everything be OK?

We have all of those worries for every heifer in the pasture, and this year, we have 45. 

45 pregnant ladies in our backyard! 

 So we are on constant baby watch:

As soon as day breaks the hubby is out and checking on the girls (heifers).

A couple hours later, I am checking on the girls.

A couple of hours later, we check on the girls again, and so on.

This goes on all-day, every day until baby number 45 has arrived.

Why do we check them this often?

We want to make sure that everything happens the way it’s supposed to – both during delivery and after the calf is born (kind of like a nurse would for you in the hospital).

We are checking them to watch for signs of labor, then we are making sure they are progressing through their labor they way they should.

Once the calf is born, we are making sure they are getting their baby cleaned up.

Once it’s cleaned up, we want to make sure the baby is up on its feet and nursing.

What if things don’t progress or something goes wrong?

That’s why we are here and watching!

Typically, if we thought something was wrong, we would move her to the barn so we can watch her more closely.

Sometimes we have to step in and help her deliver. I call my hubby the OBGYN of the cattle – he has delivered a lot of babies in his lifetime! We also have our veterinarian on speed-dial in case we need her.

Sometimes a calf needs extra care too. This baby was born on an extra cold and icy day so I brought him to the house.

Then what?

After the heifer has her calf, we move the pair (both mama and baby) to another area of the pasture with the other pairs. We keep them separate so it is easier to keep an eye on the still-pregnant heifers until they have all delivered. 

Within a month or so, all of the babies will be born and we will move onto the next project on the ranch. Something that I love just as much, to be sure, but definitely not as cute!

Happy calving everyone! 


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Jamie Lindamood
Jamie lives outside of Eureka on a cattle ranch with her favorites...husband, Diltz, and their three kiddos, Sydney (10), Henry (8) and Charlie (6). Works at Krehbiel Architecture in Wichita and spends quite a bit of time in her hometown working, playing, and volunteering. At home in Eureka, she is overly involved too...working with the community for revitalization and always enjoys encouraging people to learn how their food really gets to their plate as an advocate of agriculture through her Day at the Ranch tour, You Are Here agriculture education program and Greenwood County Cattlewomen social media outlets.