Baby Cow, The Movie

Sep
14

Just when I was ready to put a crown on BP’s head, I looked again and thought what we have here is a boy. Which brings to mind names like Darn It, Auction Block, and Homemade Hamburger Helper. (Okay, that last one is a mouthful and this calf is too cute to eat.)

Beulah Petunia: “Leave my baby alone.”

Could this thing be cuter? (Look at that, at just 12 hours old. Photos taken this morning.)

It’s hard to imagine how this calf, the size of a goat, could have been inside BP.

Birth is an amazing thing, with any creature.

BP is being a good, sweet mama.

To answer some of the various questions about Beulah Petunia…. She is a Jersey. We got her in Ohio in April. The people we got her from had a handful of cows at the time, one of which was a Brown Swiss bull. He is the daddy. BP had been with him for four months when we got her. They were former dairy owners, and were doing what appeared to us to be hobby cattle trading. They still had connections to the dairy business, as former dairy farmers themselves, and had access to buying cows straight out of the dairy. BP was a dairy workhorse, and for whatever reason, she was being sold out of the dairy. Probably because her production dropped off as she got older. They bought her for cheap, and put her up for sale. We are her first real home. She never even had a name before. (The people who had bought her out of the dairy didn’t name their cows. They were bought to sell.) There are good and bad things about getting a cow like BP. She didn’t cost a lot of money, for one thing. And she is an experienced milker (and while she may not give enough milk for a dairy business, she gives more than we need!), and she’s an experienced mother. On the downside, we have no idea how old she is, how many times she’s calved, or much else about her history. She’s not young. The people we bought her from guessed she might be around five, but said they didn’t know. (Everything else they told us about BP, such as how she milked etc, was true, so we figure they were honest about that. The vet who examined her said he figured she was probably around five, too.) She also has a limp. The people told us she’d had the limp the whole time they’d had her and it never got better or worse. That has been true. She has a limp, but it never gets better and never gets worse. We can only guess that she had an injury at some point. We’ll never know. She gets around just fine, though. And that’s pretty much all we know about BP’s life story.

She is not a show cow, but I looked into her big eyes and decided that I loved her anyway and that we could help each other. She has two names because she deserves an extra one after not having one for so long.

So anyway! I called Skip this morning and I said, “Skip! I have a calf and I’m a dingbat. Could you come over and tell me if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Skip lives across the river and a mile down the road in the old house where my father grew up. Skip said, sure, he’d be down after awhile. Skip used to have dairy cows, and now he has beef cattle. He’s been working with cows all his life.

The doctor is in.

He looked at the calf from behind then he flipped it over and said, “What you were looking at was its umbilical cord. It’s a girl. You can even see the little udder.”

Glory be, it’s a girl!!!

IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!! I have my little Jersey-Brown Swiss future milker!

And here she is:



Not so long ago, the Ornery Angel’s two little girls rode by on their bicycles on the road in front of our farm. They asked what our cow’s name was. I said, “Beulah Petunia.” They just giggled and giggled. I think every cow needs a name that makes people smile. And this baby needs two, just like her mama.

Her name is Glory Bee.





Comments

  1. Amber Swafford says:

    Love it! I started to ask if that wasn’t the umbilical cord, but didn’t want to appear stooopid! lol. 😉

  2. Michele says:

    I love that name! Very beautiful. :woof: :woof:

  3. Becky Whaley says:

    Love the video of little Glory Bee…..also LOVE the name. thank you for sharing your adventures on the farm with me.

  4. jean says:

    OMG. I can certainly understand why you thought she was a boy. From the video I would have thought so too. Congratulations!

  5. judydee says:

    Perfect name for a perfect little girl!

  6. Nikki says:

    Oh Glory bee I love her!! I’m not a cow person either but i think BP and GB are changing my mind!

  7. Crystal says:

    oh wonderful! is it ridiculous that I teared up reading about BP’s history, and at the thought of here baby being Auction Block? heh. I don’t think I would do very well as an animal farmer!

  8. Judy Laquidara says:

    Congratulations on your new arrival. I’m glad she’s a girl! She’s so cute and her name is perfect.

  9. bonita says:

    Welcome Glory Bee.

  10. beth Brown says:

    :cowsleep: Love it! A girl – and I love the name –

    Beth aka oneoldgoat

  11. Christina says:

    Sooooo sweet!! What a gorgeous little girl she is. And I love her name!

  12. Rosanne says:

    “Glory Bee” is a perfect name!!! I think SHE is a beautiful little Jersey calf. You are so lucky. BP looks great also. You can’t even tell she has had a calf. I showed my two year grandson the pictures of Glory Bee this morning and he also said “pretty”. Thanks for sharing.

  13. Nancy in Iowa says:

    What exciting drama this morning! Girl – boy – girl – and the names are perfect! She’s beautiful, with lovely eyes and ears. Welcome, Glory Bee!!!

  14. Cindy says:

    Years and years ago, a friend of my mother’s thought her cow gave birth to a bull, too, and later realized it was the umbilical cord she spied, not a penis. Oh, she was happy to have a girl and not a boy!

  15. ticka1 says:

    Exciting day on the farm and a brand new member. Love love the name Glory Bee.

    Tell BP she did good. Cute little newborn.

  16. SandyCWV says:

    Very nice calf. Glory Bee is a perfect name.

  17. Su says:

    The name is perfect, and she even shares on initial with her mama, how perfect is that?

  18. queenymom says:

    :cowsleep: Glory Bee is a cute name for a sweet baby cafe! I looked at the video in full screen. I will show it later on to Bob, on our big tv. I can do it with the laptop hooked up to it. She is simply awesome, Suzanne!

  19. Staci says:

    Awwwww, I love that baby! Her name is PERFECT!

  20. Jeanne says:

    So glad she’s a girl! I was never going to eat hamburger again! Perfect name! Congratulations!

  21. jan~n~tn says:

    Absolutely prefect name for the special newcomer.

  22. Margie brown says:

    I can live vicariously through your farm animals as I would not want to have to do the “chores” necessary to keep them. They look like they could keep us all entertained!

  23. whaledancer says:

    :snoopy: :moo: Happy news! Now you get to spoil her all you want. Glory Bee is a lovely name for a lovely little heifer. It’s amazing how well she gets around already, exploring her world. I’m happy to see she has found her mama’s working parts.

  24. TX Aggiemom says:

    Glory Bee!! I love the name and am so glad she is a girl. You can love her for a long time now. :sun:

  25. Merlin says:

    L-O-V-E the name for the calf!!!!! :cowsleep: And she’s just downright purty, just like her mama! :sun:

  26. CindyP says:

    Logan loves Glory Bee! He just keeps laughing and clapping his hands…. I’ve played the movie 4 times for him now 🙂

  27. Flatlander says:

    My cow is also from a dairy, the reason they sold her was that they reached their milk quota.
    So they sell of the less producers and keep the heavy producers.
    That way they have less cows and more milk.

    These people show cows, my Nelia is not a showcow, she was just a workhorse.
    I too fell in love with her, guess that is all you need right?

    I got papers sent to me later, she is official registered in my name now, but I didn’t love her more after I received those 😉
    But good part about it is that I know her age and such, that is always handy.

  28. Flatlander says:

    Oops forgot..congrat with the little one, she is very very pretty.

  29. ~jackie says:

    Love the name! So cute to watch her learn to work those wobbly little legs! She sure is a pretty girl.

  30. knancy says:

    Oh my! I am so glad that baby is here. I checked the site almost hourly after I saw the Kaboom udder! She had to let go with something! Glory Bee is precious. She is just absorbing her new world so quickly! Isn’t it amazing how she seems to just inhale all the new things in her surroundings! Thank goodness that udder has attained a size I can look at without discomfort. Please post more video – I could watch this all day long. Has Glory Bee checked the other animals out yet?

  31. Jessica says:

    awwww She is so beautiful! Welcome to the world Glory Bee!

  32. Becky says:

    I love BP and her baby!
    Thanks for sharing that video!!

  33. Luann says:

    Glory Bee is mooo-tiful!

  34. margaret rusnak says:

    omg, i’m in love with a calf and its momma!

  35. Angela P says:

    :cowsleep: Congratulations! Shes beautiful. You’re so brave Suzanne, I get nervous about the birthing, and look at how many babies you re farm has had this year. Amazing…Perfect name by the way!

  36. Melissa Marsh says:

    I love her dark eyes. She is gorgeous!

  37. KentuckyFarmGirl says:

    I was right! I was right! Those umbilical cords will fool ya every time! Wooowhoooo!!!!! Congrats on a gorgeous little heifer! I love the name!!!

  38. Sheila says:

    BP is a good mom, very attentive and calling Glory Bee to stay close. Good pasture or high quality hay, unlimited access to fresh water and just enough grain during peak lactation to their weight from going too low and life is good for a dairy cow. Fall is nice too, weather is cool and the biting flies are clearing out. You have a herd now and that was the last thing BP needed to make a cows life perfect. I think BP is enjoying her new life.

  39. Michelle says:

    She’s so sweet! Congrats! :cowsleep:

  40. Amanda says:

    That is a great name! Thanks for the laugh.

  41. Carol says:

    I’ve always thought BP has a beautiful face and that calf sure takes after her mommy! Those gorgeous eyes!

    This makes me even more sad I can’t come to your party. Babies everywhere! My daughter and I both have a deep longing to come see your farm and meet you and your animals.

  42. M Davidson says:

    Glory Bee is wonderful. I’m so proud of BP. So glad they both have a loving environment to be cows in. I want a cow now! My cat Donna Louise might enjoy having a bovine friend. Thanks, Suzanne.

  43. Minna says:

    Congratulations! :cowsleep: :snoopy:

  44. Jane says:

    That was lovely – the story and the video! This is probably the first baby that BP will get to raise, which is also nice, and I am happy you got your girl;)

  45. CherShots says:

    Well GLORY BEE isn’t she just the sweetest thing since honey. I guess my birthday pick is thrown out the window. lol How exciting – I’m so so excited for you and Beulah Petunia of course.

  46. Ashlee says:

    She’s so cute I almost cried! Congrats!

  47. Chic says:

    Congratulations Suzanne! What a thrill to find that baby there after such a short time. I’m glad BP did it so easily on her own. Glory Bee is the perfect name and she suits it to a T…she’s gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the photo’s and video with all of us. Have fun!
    Chic/Maura

  48. Debbie Little says:

    She is so cute. I love her wobbly little legs!! Glory Bee is the perfect name. I want a calf now too, in addition to goats. But I have that problem of not living on a farm. Maybe one day!! 😆

  49. lauren says:

    Awwww so adorable!! 🙂

  50. LeAnn Purdy says:

    I love it! Such a beautiful momma and baby!

  51. Patrice says:

    Congratulations on your first grandchild!Great name.

  52. Sandra in SC says:

    I LOVE it!!! Glory Bee is the perfect name for her. She is just beautiful….such a sweet, sweet face! Miss Clover better watch out….looks like there’s a new queen bee in town!!!

  53. Yankee Gal says:

    Bravo!!! :snoopy: And what a perfect name! Looking forward to lots of Glory Bee photos and stories.

  54. Laree says:

    CONGRATULATIONS! Glory Bee is a wonderful name!

  55. Sonia says:

    That teeny weeny little pink dot is Glory Bee’s itsy-bitsy utter? I guess I was looking for nothing to be there, just smooth skin. Anyway, she is absolutely adorable and I look forward to watching her grow and scamper around the pasture. BP is a wonderful Mom, and I just loved hearing her give those low grunting sounds to her new baby. Thanks for the video, and I look forward to more as she grows.
    By the way, BP looks great, and you can tell she is one happy cow! Thanks for loving her and giving her the home she deserves.

  56. Beth says:

    Oh my, that does make me smile. What a sweet name!

  57. Raeann says:

    Glory Bee is adorable! And I love her jutting ‘underbite’ and sweet *smile*!
    Blessings!

  58. Hlhohnholz says:

    Sonia…That little pink dot is one of her nipples. 😉 Their udders are about the area of the palm of your hand at that age.

    And I LOVE the name, Suzanne! Hooray for a girl!

  59. Donna Mc says:

    Oh I LIKE that name. Glory Bee is a beauty.

    I still wanna hug her. That face is just precious beyond words.

    Congrats!

  60. Jo says:

    Love the name and love the way BP is “talking” to her baby. Love that little kick Glory Bee gives toward the end. :heart:

  61. Barbee' says:

    Well now, of course I have to just lovvvve that name!

  62. marymac says:

    AWWW… Glory Bee is the most beautiful calf I’ve ever seen!! I feel almost like I live on a virtual farm reading your blog every day. I just love it!! Love the video, please keep them coming.

  63. Grammie Earth says:

    Yay!!! (no steaks 🙂 ) Glory Bee is a perfect name for her.
    I love that you have given Beulah Petunia her first names and her first Home!

  64. Johanna says:

    Glory Bee! What a relief, I was really concerned when you thought she was a boy. How wonderful it is to hear BP’s voice, too! She seems a good Mama Cow, and Glory looks very curious and active.

    Congratulations again!

  65. Lynne says:

    She is just adorable! I’m so glad you get to keep her!

  66. Estella says:

    Glory bee is adorable!

  67. Karen B says:

    :cowsleep: Perfection!!

  68. Carol says:

    Wow! When I read your words, “Glory be, it’s a girl!” I planned to suggest the name Glory Bea. Imagine my surprise when I read your last line. I was only one letter off. She is a beautiful little girl. Enjoyed the video as well. Thank you for giving us frequent updates as to her birth.

  69. Judy Mitchell says:

    When I was a kid on the farm, my Grandpa gave me a cow I called “Red.” She was a Brown Swiss-Guernsey mix. The Guernsey, I suppose turned her Brown Swiss hair red or something. She was solid red, and so docile I could ride her. I’d tie a bailing twine to her her horns and off we’d go. I was 8, and we’d raised Red from a newborn. Gramps announced at the dinner table one night that of all the cows he owned, “Red belongs now to Judy.” I’d ridden her up to the house where he was sitting in the rocking chair on the porch. He was rocking that chair and slapping his legs laughing. I’d made an 80 something old man’s day.

    Red looked very much like your newborn when she was little. I still have Brownie B&W snapshots of her. I’d not thought of that cow in years until I saw pictures of your baby. I had to dig those pictures out and see her again. Thanks for triggering the happy memory of that docile old friend, and congratualtions on Glory Bee!

  70. CATRAY44 says:

    What a beautiful calf and wonderful name! Congratulations!

  71. Vicki in So. CA says:

    I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Absolutely adorable! I love all the sounds from Beulah Petunia – so sweet. How lucky BP is to finally get to live with you and be able to raise her baby. I know they will both lead happy lives.

    I think Skip deserves a cookie!

  72. Karen Templeton says:

    Glory Bee is the most perfect name, ever! Fitting for the most perfect calf, ever. :snoopy:

    But this is amusing — Beulah Petunia’s face reminds of my son’s beagle/corgi mix pooch (my “granddog”)! Too funny.

  73. Debby says:

    What an adorable name. :moo:

  74. Michelle says:

    It’s a perfect name! Brown Swiss get a lot bigger than Jerseys, so she may get bigger than BP.

  75. Liz in Wis says:

    So glad mother and baby are both fine

  76. Gen says:

    yea for girls!!! Glory Bee looks like quite the sweet girl, too.

  77. Tisha says:

    Glory Be, I’m smitten!!!!

  78. Sonia says:

    Thanks Hlhohnholz! Whew, glad to know that little pink dot is just a normal baby cow nippy 😀 :moo:

  79. northcountrygirl says:

    A little girl! That’s terrific. That’s good news! Little Glory Bee is a sweetheart!

  80. Janet Brown says:

    :cowsleep:
    Glory Bee is so very sweet! Love the name and I agree a cow needs two names to make people smile. When I was little my gram had Sweetie Pie a Jersey milk cow. 🙂

  81. Leah says:

    The calf is beautiful! I glad BP and GB escaped the dairy farm life!

  82. CntryLadi says:

    Such a beautiful little girl! And a perfect name too! I love the way BP “talks” to her new baby. Congrats BP and Suzanne. :snoopy:

  83. Nancy in Iowa says:

    Had to come back and look at Glory Bee and Mama some more. When will Baby meet the goats?

  84. Tracey In Paradise,Pa. says:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT NAME!!! ALL I HAVE TO SAY!!! :chicken:

  85. Suz in the Tules says:

    :cowsleep: She is adorable! Her mama keeps a sharp eye on her.
    Congratulations! :moo:

  86. Tea4too0 says:

    Congratulations, Glory Bee is the Bee’s Knees. Bring some of Bp’s milk with you next visit, dip your fingers and see if GB will nurse. I always got a kick out of that with our bottle babies.

  87. kerri says:

    Hubby and I just read this post together and oohed and aahed…just like proud grandparents :happyflower: How could anyone not love that beautiful creature? And her sweet mommy.
    Glory Bee is a perfect name. So glad she’s a girl!!
    We loved the video! Thanks for sharing the fun, and congratulations to BP on a job very well done. :moo:

  88. Diane says:

    How precious!!! Although I am worried about BPs weight and have been for a while. What does the vet say about those protruding hip bones? Have you increased her feed? Since all my animals are overly plump I think any bone showing isn’t normal. (And no checking me for plumpness!) Thats why I call our farm “The Fat Farm” every animal is fat!! Although I do understand that dairy cows are not the same as beef cows.

    • Suzanne McMinn says:

      Diane, when the vet was here (and checked her for pregnancy) he said she looked like a normal Jersey to him. Some people tell me she looks thin for a Jersey, other people tell me she looks like a normal Jersey. Jerseys are bony as a breed. In any case, she is given all she will eat, and more. She gets a bale of hay, feed, and a mineral block every day.

  89. Barbee' says:

    Suzanne, I just watched the video for the third time. I hear something that sounds like hogs. Is BP making that sound? Or, is it you doing that to get the baby to look? I’ve been wondering if you still have the hogs, or not.

    • Suzanne McMinn says:

      Barbee, no, we don’t have any pigs right now. I wasn’t making any noise during the movie. I’m not sure what you’re hearing, but it’s either BP or some of the other animals in the background. (The goats are in the neighboring field.)

  90. monica says:

    omg Have i missed this site!!
    Our new computer is up and operational for the most part. still couple of buggs to shake out though.

    :cowsleep: So cute!!!!

  91. sasha says:

    Oh my, how CUTE! :moo:

  92. Pam Glidden says:

    That’s in inspired, adorable name for a beautiful little girl. Thank you for sharing the video with us, Suzanne! BP did an amazing job!

  93. Miss Becky says:

    Goldangit! It’s a girl again! Yay!!! Girls calves are so much better than bull calves! And I love her name too. Perfect. :yes:

  94. Carol Langille says:

    Glory Bee!!!! Absolutely perfect, Suzanne! See….I told you she was too pretty to be a little bull!
    Thank you for sharing the biography of Beulah Petunia….she does deserve her good home and her two names.

  95. Mechele Armstrong says:

    Congrats on Glory Bee! I love the name. She looks so so sweet. I’m :snoopy: for you and BP.

  96. 4jsMOM says:

    A pretty name for a beautiful baby girl. Thanks for the video. A wonderful way to start this day. But every day it great when I start it out with CITR.

  97. Lisa says:

    Oh I love that name !! :snoopy:

  98. vachickenfarmer says:

    Beautiful! My husband, myself, our cat, and our dog were all crowded around the computer screen, watching enthralled, with ears raised and perked! (The animals ears were raised and perked, also.) Glory Bee and Beulah Petunia are both beautiful! Congratulations, Mama!!! :moo:

  99. Sandi Johnson says:

    She’s a gorgeous calf, congratulations…..loved looking at the pictures and watching the video.

  100. Lisa L. says:

    What a beautiful name – suits her perfectly. Beautiful!

  101. BrendaE says:

    I love her name – Glory Bee how cute. She is so darn cute – staying close to momma – and BP seems to be such a good mother.

  102. auntbear says:

    yes,yes,yes!Great name♥♥♥

  103. Susan M. says:

    Welcome to the world,Glory Bee !!!

  104. mrkittysmom says:

    Glory Bee is perfect – and you will turn us all into vegans.
    Get that baby on some flat ground!!!!

  105. lavenderblue says:

    I could watch that video over and over. How do you get anything done on your farm? I’d just plunk myself down in that field and watch the two of them until, well, until the cows came home, as my momma used to say.

    Glory Bee is a wonderful name. Once again, so glad she’s a girl. :snoopy:

  106. monica says:

    :wave: Little N. says “it looks like a baby deer” and it was kind of neat because I thought it did too at first. Then I started to read!!
    You are so lucky!!!! Talk about Utopia!

  107. tarynh says:

    My mare had her baby out in the pasture, and I checked for the sex – found the umbilical cord – girl! Called the vet for a check and left for work. Vet called me (and I could hear my daughter in the background, “YOU tell her!!”). The vet informed me that I had not groped far enough back – “she” was a “he.” (Which is good for me!)

  108. Nancy in Iowa says:

    I love coming back here to see Glory Bee and mama – and I, too, wondered what the snorting was in the background! I would have thought pigs, but I don’t think you have Sausage and Patty walking around anymore. Maybe Jack?

    I was just reminded of Christopher Walken – More Cowbell!!!

  109. Gayle says:

    What a great mom you are, BP! And……..little GeeBee, what a charmer. Love the eye liner!

  110. joycee says:

    Loved the video! Glory Bee is a perfect name for her, she is just the cutest little thing and Mama looks proud as punch! I know there are millions of cows just like Beula Petunia who never have real homes, kind of breaks my heart but this is the real world we live in and producing milk for millions would never happen without working dairies. That said, I am so glad she found her way to Walton Mountain and your wonderful farm. It’s a slice of Heaven for sure…

  111. Beverly says:

    Sweet little cow, wonderful name! :moo:

  112. Debbie in PA says:

    Glory Bee….I like that name! :moo:

    “What you were looking at is the umbilical cord….” I am still laughing at that!

  113. Susan at Charm of the Carolines says:

    I love Beulah Petunia and Glory Bee! I also think every girl animal needs two names. Mine are Lily Belle, Tammy Tabby, and Nannie Nutmeg. It’s not as important to boys to have two.

    Love your farm. Thanks for sharing!

    Susan

  114. Holly says:

    That is the prettiest calf ever. :sun:

  115. Milkmaid says:

    Oh my she is so sweet!! Our jersey Gladys had a sweet bull calf last night! Jersey girls are the best!

  116. Runningtrails says:

    Suzanne, you have been truly blessed! Another milker!! She is so sweet and adorable and I know she will be a wonderful and very beloved addition to your family.

  117. Ann says:

    Glory Bee is so Pretty.

  118. Miss Mae says:

    How absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Glory Bee is not only beautiful, but also is Beulah Petunia. How wonderful to be able to spend your life each day in the company of these magnificent animals! 🙂

  119. Lisabeth Olson says:

    I have 2 dairy cows. Laurie Beth and Mary Beth. The Beth is the last part of my first name. Laurie Beth gave birth last April to a heifer calf. Cute is the only word to describe any of them. Glory Bee is a typical ‘CUTIE’ with an exceptional name. At least you have 2 years to think what you will do with all the milk. Mine are Holsteins and Laurie Beth stands 8″ taller than Mary Beth. both of my girls are from dairies. I have just found your website and know I will be spending my time reading your stuff instead of playing games.
    Thank you for making this so terrific
    I’m a critter person, and raise calves to sell. All of mine have gone to long stay homes so they can live out their lives until they grow old. I visit them and they still come running when I call them.

  120. impatientgirl says:

    :snoopy: Just discovered your site through a friend and it totally brightened my day! Beautiful!

  121. Barbara says:

    My husband always watches to catch the baby “Peeing”, if it comes from the back- girl, if it comes from the belly- boy. I never thought about it, but it works!

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