This week, the most exciting thing to happen on the farm was that we had a surprise calf born!
Due to a recordkeeping failure on my part, I didn’t even realize that Gunhild (the mom) was pregnant! She had been living at The Faaborg Farm (Ranaes’ parents) for the winter, so I only saw her every few weeks. They had asked me several times if I was sure Gunhild wasn’t pregnant, as it looked like her udder was getting bigger. I confidently told them there was no way, as we have no bull she could escape to, none of the neighbors have a bull she could escape to, and therefore artificial insemination is the only way she could have gotten pregnant. But my records said she never came into heat and she was never bred. If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen, right?
Well, pregnant cows don’t care what records say, so when it was time, she had her calf on her own out in the pasture. Rand (Ranae’s dad) found them not long after. I brought the trailer over and brought them back to our farm so Gunhild could be milked the next morning.
Well, pregnant cows don’t care what records say, so when it was time, she had her calf on her own out in the pasture. Rand (Ranae’s dad) found them not long after. I brought the trailer over and brought them back to our farm so Gunhild could be milked the next morning.
At Lost Lake Farm, we name our heifer calves (future milk cows) with the same first letter as their mom. Each year, we choose names from a different country. Some cows have had more females in their lines or have been in the herd longer, so have started to feel like royal families. This week I will introduce you to the G family. They have some definitive characteristics that make them readily identifiable.
Gunhild is obviously the matriarch of Family G. She was purchased as a six-month-old weaned heifer from a Mennonite farmer near Kalona, Iowa. She is half Jersey, ¼ Ayrshire, and ¼ Holstein. She was raised by her mom and was quite wild when we got her. She was dehorned before she came to us. It took a lot of years and patience, but she is now very tame, and even enjoys getting scratched/petted when she’s in that kind of mood. She has also always been a prodigious milker.
Gunhild is obviously the matriarch of Family G. She was purchased as a six-month-old weaned heifer from a Mennonite farmer near Kalona, Iowa. She is half Jersey, ¼ Ayrshire, and ¼ Holstein. She was raised by her mom and was quite wild when we got her. She was dehorned before she came to us. It took a lot of years and patience, but she is now very tame, and even enjoys getting scratched/petted when she’s in that kind of mood. She has also always been a prodigious milker.
Gerhild was Gunhild’s first calf, born in 2012, the first year we were here at Lost Lake Farm. Her dad is Royal Holl, a Normande bull from France who has progeny all over the world thanks to artificial insemination. Gerhild is wild but getting calmer; she now occasional allows me to scratch her head or tail. She’s also a bit of a bully to the other cows. She’s a good milker and, like all the G’s, an excellent mother. She prefers to have her calf in sight at all times. Within six feet of her is best. She has had five calves to date.
| Gaia in front and Gerhild in back. Like their mom, they both groan a lot while they chew their cud. |
Gaia was Gunhild’s next daughter, born in 2018. She is a full sister to Gerhild (also a Royal Holl daughter). She is pregnant with her first calf now, due in August!
Galatea was born to Gerhild in 2018, just a week after her “aunt” Gaia. She was sired by Infinity, a Normande bull, making her ¾ Nomande. She is pregnant with her first calf, due in early September. She has her mother’s wildness but not her size or meanness (yet).
Gina was Gerhild’s first daughter, born in 2017. Her pa is Roucoups, a Normande bull, making her ¾ Normande. She has had one calf so far and is pregnant with her second, due at the end of July. She is fairly mild-mannered and not particularly large, but seems to get plenty of respect just for being a G.
Gina was Gerhild’s first daughter, born in 2017. Her pa is Roucoups, a Normande bull, making her ¾ Normande. She has had one calf so far and is pregnant with her second, due at the end of July. She is fairly mild-mannered and not particularly large, but seems to get plenty of respect just for being a G.
Guzelkiz is Gerhild’s most recent calf, born in December of 2019. Her dad is a Jersey named Daybreak. She is still nursing. Her name means “pretty girl” in Turkish. She is curious, spunky, a tad bit farmer-friendly, and best pals with Ayla (different family obviously). Just realized we don't have a photo of Guzelkiz!
Goezleri was born in June of 2019 to Gina, who was bred to a New Zealand “Kiwi Cross” (Frisian/Jersey) bull named Prelude. Her name means “eyes”, so named because she has such unusually-colored eyes, though less dramatic now than when she was a babe.
Goezleri was born in June of 2019 to Gina, who was bred to a New Zealand “Kiwi Cross” (Frisian/Jersey) bull named Prelude. Her name means “eyes”, so named because she has such unusually-colored eyes, though less dramatic now than when she was a babe.
Gunhild had bull calves in 2014 (no name), 2016 (no name), 2017 (Newman), and 2019 (Genel). Genel is still with us and will be raised up for beef.
Gerhild had bull calves in 2014 (Gus), and 2015 (Gilberto).
Gerhild had bull calves in 2014 (Gus), and 2015 (Gilberto).