Down on the Farm: The Dynamic Duo

Dynamic Duo

When you pull up to the dairy, it is not uncommon for us to have a calf or two running around on the loose. Most of the time, this is on purpose. We have a belief that when a calf is ill or not growing the way they should, then they need to “free range”. “Free Range” is when they are taken out of their pens and away from their siblings and allowed to run around and enjoy life however they please.

Jade was a six-month-old when we let her free range. She was sick with a respiratory infection and wasn’t able to keep up with her siblings. We removed her from the group pens, gave her some medications for the infection, and let her roam wherever she wanted. She soon beat the respiratory infection and became a strong healthy heifer that caused mischief wherever she went, but she had a friend join her in all of her adventures. Got

Jade’s partner-in-crime was a four-month old calf named, Odie. Odie was a smaller little girl that did not fit in with her age group. She had a hard time getting to the feed bunk and keeping up with her siblings. We put her out with Jade in order to give her a chance to grow. The minute we let Odie out, Jade came running over to her. They circled each other and then took off across the field behind the barn. They bucked and reared up and ran around the field for hours until they got hungry. This was just the beginning of a mischievous friendship.

Letting Jade and Odie run free was a great idea for their health. It helped them grow and mature and become the beautiful young calves they were supposed to be. However, they were constant troublemakers. They had a habit of visiting the younger calves, reaching into the calf homes, and stealing their feed. This was a constant issue. Odie taught Jade how to bend the panels to reach the buckets of grain inside. We were constantly having to fix the homes. Not only did they steal from the homes, but they would steal 5-gallon bucket of feed as well. We, usually, leave the feed buckets next to the feeder or feed sacks. Not with these two. We had to lock the buckets up in a stall or else it would be in the middle of the driveway the next morning.

One day, Odie got stuck on the wrong side of the fence. She and Jade bawled at each other for over an hour before I got Odie on the right side of the fence. When they were reunited, they jumped up and down and never left each other’s side the rest of the day. The next day, Jade wouldn’t let Odie out of her sight.

The dynamic due is a mischievous, inseparable pair. They due everything together and cause mischief wherever they go. Their mischievousness keeps things interesting out on the farm.

–Courtney Henderson, Special to The Botetourt Bee..