Post by catherine on Jul 18, 2008 3:39:29 GMT -5
;)Well, Ladies and Gentlemen...
CALPC has struck again! It's not like we're lacking cows on our place, but when a gorgeous girl like Miss Elsie comes available, anyone would jump at the chance to invite her to come home with them!
Melissa of Pasofinofarms bought Elsie as a package deal with a Dexter they really wanted. She was apparently a little bitty bottle baby and very rough looking, but feed and TLC revealed her hidden beauty. When they decided to shift their focus to strictly breeding for milky Dexters, they sold her to Liz. Elsie was to supplement Liz's Hattie's production, but as Hattie is supporting TWO calves AND producing more milk than they can possibly use, she decided to sell her to us. The kids and I had already fallen in love with Miss Elsie, while visiting Liz. I'd asked if we could try crossing our Devon bull with her Jersey when Elsie was next open. So, Liz knew we loved her and wanted her. I was absolutely floored when she offered her to us, sweetheart that she is! I think that Liz liked the idea of keeping Elsie within the "KFC family"! We are all so excited to have her, most of all my DH. Wow, is that man smitten, as is his Mom. Plus, my Mom had always wanted a pretty little light colored Jersey, and here she is...ironically enough on Mom's anniversary. How appropriate.
In spite of her scruffy beginnings, the photos below show that Elsie's grown into an absolutely lovely, graceful and generally sweet tempered young lady. Yes, she has just a bit of a temper, and was most annoyed that she'd had to move, yet again, but I really think she's coming to terms with that. Besides, I hate moves, too, so I completely understand. LOL. It's noticeable to us that she was a bottle baby, since we're used to range cows. Elsie has ZIP/ZERO/NADA flight zone! She's 4 months bred to a Dexter for her first calf, and seems to be making the adjustment into our herd of Milking Devon quite nicely. In fact, it's been rather like watching people meet and greet at business social functions! You know how it goes...a sniff here, an arch look there, a few heads butting over yonder! lol. And then there's the Computer Nerd stuck behind his pocketprotector with a hopeless crush on the Jock's girlfriend. Well, that's our Jr. Bull, Samson! He's absolutely star struck by Miss Elsie's beauty, and she hasn't a clue he even exists! rofl. Our King...Red Boy...has graciously accepted her into the herd, and our Queen Katie has as well, after some initial reservations that have since been resolved. Katie's older daughter, Annie, is about the same age, size and state of pregnancy as Elsie, and those two have come into some competition...esp. for our attention and for access to Annie's beloved feed bucket! Who knew that cows could be jealous?! Other than those two girls, the pecking order seems to have trickled on down through the herd, and peace reigns supreme. Here are a few pictures of Miss Elsie and her new family in the watermeadow down by the creek.
Here's a bit of the "business social", as Red Boy ambles over for a "get acquainted" visit.
And then here is Miss Elsie with her brand new halter and lead rope in the stanchion in our milk barn, which will have to be readjusted for her, as she has NO HORNS to hold her in like all the others do!
Thanks again to Liz and Melissa for this lovely heifer. They've done a great job caring for her and training her, and I thank them both for the wonderful gift that is Elsie. It's really neat that she's been passed through several KFC homes. She's too lovely a cow to let get away from our "family"! We look forward to showing off her baby come December, and to enjoying her wonderful milk!
CALPC has struck again! It's not like we're lacking cows on our place, but when a gorgeous girl like Miss Elsie comes available, anyone would jump at the chance to invite her to come home with them!
Melissa of Pasofinofarms bought Elsie as a package deal with a Dexter they really wanted. She was apparently a little bitty bottle baby and very rough looking, but feed and TLC revealed her hidden beauty. When they decided to shift their focus to strictly breeding for milky Dexters, they sold her to Liz. Elsie was to supplement Liz's Hattie's production, but as Hattie is supporting TWO calves AND producing more milk than they can possibly use, she decided to sell her to us. The kids and I had already fallen in love with Miss Elsie, while visiting Liz. I'd asked if we could try crossing our Devon bull with her Jersey when Elsie was next open. So, Liz knew we loved her and wanted her. I was absolutely floored when she offered her to us, sweetheart that she is! I think that Liz liked the idea of keeping Elsie within the "KFC family"! We are all so excited to have her, most of all my DH. Wow, is that man smitten, as is his Mom. Plus, my Mom had always wanted a pretty little light colored Jersey, and here she is...ironically enough on Mom's anniversary. How appropriate.
In spite of her scruffy beginnings, the photos below show that Elsie's grown into an absolutely lovely, graceful and generally sweet tempered young lady. Yes, she has just a bit of a temper, and was most annoyed that she'd had to move, yet again, but I really think she's coming to terms with that. Besides, I hate moves, too, so I completely understand. LOL. It's noticeable to us that she was a bottle baby, since we're used to range cows. Elsie has ZIP/ZERO/NADA flight zone! She's 4 months bred to a Dexter for her first calf, and seems to be making the adjustment into our herd of Milking Devon quite nicely. In fact, it's been rather like watching people meet and greet at business social functions! You know how it goes...a sniff here, an arch look there, a few heads butting over yonder! lol. And then there's the Computer Nerd stuck behind his pocketprotector with a hopeless crush on the Jock's girlfriend. Well, that's our Jr. Bull, Samson! He's absolutely star struck by Miss Elsie's beauty, and she hasn't a clue he even exists! rofl. Our King...Red Boy...has graciously accepted her into the herd, and our Queen Katie has as well, after some initial reservations that have since been resolved. Katie's older daughter, Annie, is about the same age, size and state of pregnancy as Elsie, and those two have come into some competition...esp. for our attention and for access to Annie's beloved feed bucket! Who knew that cows could be jealous?! Other than those two girls, the pecking order seems to have trickled on down through the herd, and peace reigns supreme. Here are a few pictures of Miss Elsie and her new family in the watermeadow down by the creek.
Here's a bit of the "business social", as Red Boy ambles over for a "get acquainted" visit.
And then here is Miss Elsie with her brand new halter and lead rope in the stanchion in our milk barn, which will have to be readjusted for her, as she has NO HORNS to hold her in like all the others do!
Thanks again to Liz and Melissa for this lovely heifer. They've done a great job caring for her and training her, and I thank them both for the wonderful gift that is Elsie. It's really neat that she's been passed through several KFC homes. She's too lovely a cow to let get away from our "family"! We look forward to showing off her baby come December, and to enjoying her wonderful milk!