Double A Longhorns

One thing I can't imagine forgetting is the experience of having calves for the first time. The whole thing is a rather unique experience. You show up to your property, and all of a sudden a baby calf is there; well, you have to find them first. Texas Longhorn mothers often hide their calves and keep them away from the herd for a little while.

The first indication that you may have a calf is that the mother is separated from the others. You will find the cows roaming about the pasture, but one of them is off on her own. That's your first clue. When you notice this, excitement starts to well up inside you. So naturally you make your way near this lonesome cow, but very likely you will not see a calf at her feet. Her calf is hidden from everyone, including you.

It was like this with our very first calf. It was an extremely hot day in July. I was almost certain that our expectant mother Blue Magnum had her calf, but of course I couldn't find it. I just knew she was alone most of the day. And since it's Texas in the summer, I was spraying Mesquite trees on our ATV; which means I'm driving all around our pastures from tree to tree. As I approached a small, bushy mesquite tree, I found at its base a very beautiful and very sleepy baby Texas Longhorn.

I was not prepared for how I would feel when finding our first calf. It's not like I thought about it much in advance. The truth is when you lay eyes on them for the first time, at that moment it's quite sobering. Things tend to stand still, and whatever small things you may have been worrying about are somehow very distant thoughts.