Weaning Moonlight was not an easy task, especially since the mother cow needed time to prepare for her next calf. The fences were not finished, and farm work was in full swing. We had been dealing with days of continuous rain, and with produce coming in, farmers’ markets were taking time away from our farm. There was more work than the two of us could manage, and the family was helping in every way possible; however, the task list was long!
We had planned to complete the fencing at the other farm earlier in the spring, but the unexpected wet season prevented us from doing so. When it’s time for crops to grow, and the growing season is here, no one gets a break. Henry and I are now working from daylight to dark, seven days a week, often putting in 14 to 16-hour days. Let’s not forget the daily household chores, meal preparation, and much-needed sleep.
Nonetheless, watching Moonlight wean was a significant milestone for our small farm. She was our first heifer raised here, set to join our herd and help expand our cow-calf operation, which Henry had been looking forward to, and I was excited to have cows again.
What you didn’t see was Moonlight running through the fence and down our driveway, with Henry chasing after her while we all held our breath, hoping she wouldn’t reach the road. The other cows were restless without her, and we knew we had to mend the torn-down fence.
After two weeks, we made the decision to move Moonlight to our other farm. With the help of our other children, we successfully loaded her up and transported her to the new herd. Although it took a few months for the other cows to embrace her, she found happiness in her new home. Now, at 18 months, Moonlight is bred, and we will check on her in another 3 to 4 months to see how she is doing with her calf. We are excitedly anticipating the arrival of a new baby calf in 2026.
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