I am musing today about the nature of mothers and how they seem to be the same everywhere you go, and across all species.
As many of you know, I am perpetually ‘calf clucky’. I just love them. Until recently, we had plans to adopt two bobby calves that were marked for the meatworks and hand raise them. Then we started a horse charity and suddenly our land has been earmarked for horses destined for the meatworks!
We still have plans to get calves, but they the timing just isn’t right at the moment.
For the time being, I have to enjoy my neighbours’ calves through the fence. I have calves on two sides of our property and today, the newest arrival, a gorgeous little calf that we’ve named “Freedom” (because his new owners have named him “Freezer”… why? Apparently because “that’s where he’s going”… grrr) was up for some play.
He spotted my dogs as I wandered around doing the midday horse and chicken feeds and came to fence to say hello. He’s only about the size of a Golden Retriever and they had fun touching noses through the fence, until one of my dogs started barking loudly in his face. He startled backwards, looking a little shaken. Now, his mum (who is huge!), was nearby and had been calling out cautionary moos to her little man to be careful. When he jumped backwards, she rushed to his side, shook her head at the dogs in a scolding, protective gesture, then began licking and nuzzling the little man all over to check that he was okay and to ease his shock.
I stood watching this with a smile on my face, enjoying just how strong the mothering, protective instinct is across all species. I’ve seen it in horses, and cats, and cows and humans. And it’s all the same.
While “Freedom” may not be destined for the life I would like him to have (i.e. wandering around and living out his days in comfort and style), I am at least pleased that he and his mother get to enjoy this sacred mother-baby time together, rather than being separated at a few days old and experiencing all the grief and trauma that accompanies it. I do hope she gets to see him grow up.
