first of all..i don't want this post to turn into a rabid vegan vs non vegan discussion. all i want is to tell a sad story because this story deserves to be heard.
a young family decided to start a small hobby farm and were in the process of experiencing and learning about sustainable family farm living. they came across some newborn calves for sale and went to see them. there were three couple of day old jersey calves, 2 bull calves and a little heifer. they thought the babes looked sickly and poorly cared for but the farmer said if they weren't interested in taking them, they would be shot in the morning.
these babes at birth were taken away from their mothers, not given that first all important colostrum feeding, nor were their umbilical cords cleaned with iodine. these calves were absolutely worthless and not worth any kind of care.
the family took the babes home, started bottle feeding and medicating for scours (calf diarrhea, preventable by just a couple of colostrum feedings.)
the calves were named merry chris moose.
merry died first, she had a cough which most likely progressed to pneumonia. chris while having the scours, held his own and was doing ok. but little moose got weaker and weaker and soon could no longer get up or walk on his own.
this was the point that i heard about them and realized this family had been taken advantage of, sold newborn calves that were already doomed. they had never had newborn calves before and did not know about the dangers these discarded and unwanted babes face on some of the not so great farms. i contacted them and offered to help which they gladly accepted. so we called our vets and asked them to go out which they did. moose was too far gone..what had originally begun as a umbilical infection from being unclean and most likely born in filth at birth had progressed to septicemia and invaded all of his joints to the point where there was no longer any hope. our vet gently euthanized him in his bed.
the kids were all pretty upset, crying and sad because they worked really hard to try to pull him thru. but it was just too late for moose.
tonight the family brought chris here and we will welcome him into our cow family and provide for all of his care. we already have a chris here (one of our chickens) so we have changed his name to norman little foot (in honor of norman from city slickers and little foot the lost little dinosaur who finally found some friends.)
there are millions of trails of tears shed by innocent days old calves. they have no value alive and their deaths are not gentle or kind. calves who have value are raised, sickly, sterile or male calves are simply just thoughtlessly tossed away.
they are birthed from their mothers bodies then taken away to which ever fate is theirs. and they face that fate alone..newborn babies..to live and produce or to falter and die. that is their cycle of purpose in life.
norman little foot is now about one week old..the only one of the three who thus far has survived the harshness of 7 days of life.
such a tiny baby to face such a monsterous challenge just to live.
norman is going to be looking for some loving calf nannies to come and spend time with him. he is currently isolated in our shop and will not be able to join his new cow family until he is stronger. if anyone is free to come and nuture and stave off loneliness for saints newest tiny baby..it would make him really happy.
rest in peace merry and moose, may the gods be more merciful in your next lives.
welcome to saints norman little foot.
EDITED TO ADD: The request for volunteers was meant for the existing volunteers. Sorry for the confusion.
Very sad to hear, and greatful for you to help these calves. Maybe there needs to be something done that these farmers have to be a little more mindful of how they take care of the calves they dont want. Im sure theres a kinder more humane way to take care of unwanted calves. Times are changing and these things need to change. Sigh...... ❤️