Was the calf ok with you that close?

My pastures are literally surrounding my house, it is my house you can see in the background. I am taking care of herds of between 3-8 individuals each year, and with so few individuals, there is plenty of time to get to know each individual well. In 2007 there were two cows with a calf each, and a cow without calf. The calves were newborn when they came to me, so they quickly got used to me being part of their herd. I feed them and groom them multiple times every day, and at night I often sleep in the grass or in the shed, together with the herd, so they consider me as just another member of the herd.

That sounds like the kind of way to live that I am missing out on. :D

Well, it is not perfect... During the past eleven years, I have only been taking care of cattle belonging to others. I would like to have my own herd, and thus not having to say goodbye to them every November. But I cannot really get a herd of my own until I live at a place where I know I can stay the rest of my life.

I am going to have to sell the farm I own now, as I do not own it by myself, but together with my brother (and he is having to sell his part).

Oh I see. Sorry to hear that. I hope you're able to though, at least at some point.

That is what I have been striving towards for most of my life. I do not feel complete without the company of a herd to care for. Thank you for the kind comments!

I Feel the pull of the herd too. Been around some bovines when last in Devon..got surrounded, but did not feel at all threatened. None near me though. Sometimes I go to see the deer at Lotherton though.

I am very fond of deer too. I go watch red deer and fallow deer in a large fenced in nature reserve now and then. And I feed the deer and moose during the winter, as there are a lot of deer and moose in my forest (I own a little forest also). Mostly just roe deer and moose here, though. Sometimes there are wild fallow deer walking by, but no red deer right where I live. I hope you will eventually find a herd which you can be part of also. :)

Just getting the odd curious snuffle to my fingers from time to time is good enough. Thanks for the photos :)

How adorable! A very beautiful cow and calf I love the brown bits in the calf's fur

Thank you for the kind comment! I agree, I love such shades of colouring in fur.

You are most welcome! Glad to hear you agree as well. Do you plan on keeping the calf in the herd? Or eventually selling?

I am sadly only taking care of cattle belonging to other people, and I don't really have any say in what is to happen to them. I elaborated a little in comments to Avon, further up on the page.

As soon as I own a farm which I am likely to spend the rest of my life on, I will finally be able to have a herd of my own. If I had greater chance of keeping my current farm, I would have gotten my own herd, instead of taking care of others' herds.

Aww that is a darn shame. I too have the dream of owning a farm with the love of my life. And I do hope you find your permanent one someday soon my friend.

Thanks for the kindness! I hope your dream will come true also.

Thank you very much for your wonderful words :) and you are most welcome my friend