Cows and teeny tiny horns

When we got our new cows they'd had that powder stuff put on their horn buds that make them - the horns! - not grow, but it hadn't worked on some of them so their wee horns were growing in. They can't go on cattle trucks with horns so we got the vet in to remove them when they were still small. They get an injection of anaesthetic in each horn area then the vet uses sort of lopper things to remove the horns and sprays them with an antibiotic after. It's painless and the cows were totally unstressed, but I still decided to go into town! I am a farming wimp!

These photos are courtesy of the lovely Chelsea. Dustin and Lloyd helped Matt, the vet, as our crush has seen better days and is definitely more suited to a larger cow!

It all went smoothly and the cows were still coming up for cuddles afterwards so they don't seem to hold it against us.

Aoife and Ruairidh were in a strop because they didn't get to go with the others, but they were the lucky ones.

The Highland Cows are doing so well

We go and check on them every day, but today I remembered to take the camera. See how much Aoife and Ruairidh's horns have grown!



I love this one, it's "one man and his...cow" Aoife loves Lloyd











the grass is growing faster than the cows can eat it, we're even considering topping the paddock that they were just in as there is a bit of dock in it. Well, it's an excuse to get the tractor out!

(Aoife and Ruairidh are on the far left)

They've Arrived!
And how cute are they? Very.

Our 2 were desperate to get in with the other wee ones and were running around all over the place looking at them through the fence.
When we let them in they all ran to meet eachother! It was very sweet.

The bigger ones are in a field of their own too.

this is the big truck!

this is SGJB ( spring grass jobbie bot!) These are the big ones.

running to meet eachother!

Aoife and Ruairidh.
( pronounced Eva and Rory, people have been asking!)

We've been going out and feeding them hay every day to get them used to us and now they eat out of our hands - it's great! Ruairidh has a blue tongue. Aoife is much tamer and more confident, Ruairidh looks to her for everything, like he's checking things are ok, and he hides behind her a lot. He's a few months younger though so I suppose this makes sense. I am so glad we got the both of them, as I think he would have missed her terribly.

We've discovered that Rachel and Jospeh are rather partial to a bit of hay as well and that Rachel is incredibly greedy!
where's mine?

Look what arrived today!
meet Ruairidh and Aoife, the newest additions to our menagerie. They are settling in beautifully, sharing the paddock with the donkeys.