Zanfara boss cow
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 5:50 pm
A rather late response to Saffy's request for more info on my boss cow.
She is Zanfara Thomasina, born 7/2/05. She is my attempt to breed back to Doesmead bloodlines. So far has had fourteen calves, of which eleven have been heifers and the three bulls were all registered and worked. All have been excellent calves and she's a good mother. Now undisputed herd boss as second ranking cow has no ambition to challenge for top rank and Thomasina has outlived all previous challengers. Thomasina is in excellent health with a good udder, particularly when compared to her mother, Clarissa, who at this age who had lost a quarter, had regular bouts of mastitis and was a little stiff in her back legs, but was only put down aged 19 years as she wouldn't get in calf.
So far, so good.
Now for the cons. She's a Big Momma so cannot travel with anyone but her own calf and is very disruptive when trying to catch and load other cattle to go to summer grass, or when coming home. In the barn in winter, she has to have a larger pen than anyone else and bullies the occupants of the neighbouring pens so a lot of "cot sides" are needed to prevent this. A big cow and a big pen mean more fodder, bedding and mucking out. If she's outside, she will hog to herself a shelter big enough for several animals. When there's a big bale, she'll eat her fill then lie down and cud by it so low ranking cows can't get near. If I spread fodder out, she'll walk to the other end of the field to chase a cow off it. She's been haltered since a calf but is still a pain to catch and lead. If she decides it's time for spring turn out, she'll go over the top of her pen and out of the barn door, regardless of any door fastenings.
I always wanted a long-lived cow but now I begin to wonder whether I haven't wished too hard.......
She is Zanfara Thomasina, born 7/2/05. She is my attempt to breed back to Doesmead bloodlines. So far has had fourteen calves, of which eleven have been heifers and the three bulls were all registered and worked. All have been excellent calves and she's a good mother. Now undisputed herd boss as second ranking cow has no ambition to challenge for top rank and Thomasina has outlived all previous challengers. Thomasina is in excellent health with a good udder, particularly when compared to her mother, Clarissa, who at this age who had lost a quarter, had regular bouts of mastitis and was a little stiff in her back legs, but was only put down aged 19 years as she wouldn't get in calf.
So far, so good.
Now for the cons. She's a Big Momma so cannot travel with anyone but her own calf and is very disruptive when trying to catch and load other cattle to go to summer grass, or when coming home. In the barn in winter, she has to have a larger pen than anyone else and bullies the occupants of the neighbouring pens so a lot of "cot sides" are needed to prevent this. A big cow and a big pen mean more fodder, bedding and mucking out. If she's outside, she will hog to herself a shelter big enough for several animals. When there's a big bale, she'll eat her fill then lie down and cud by it so low ranking cows can't get near. If I spread fodder out, she'll walk to the other end of the field to chase a cow off it. She's been haltered since a calf but is still a pain to catch and lead. If she decides it's time for spring turn out, she'll go over the top of her pen and out of the barn door, regardless of any door fastenings.
I always wanted a long-lived cow but now I begin to wonder whether I haven't wished too hard.......