Something on my Mind: A Calf is Born (2)

Any system works best when the rules are followed. Not perfect, of course, just best. I re-learned that rule with the recent birth of our calf, the subject of last week's column.

Let me explain:

If we follow the rules of the road, by and large, we'll have safe roads and successful travelling. I know there are mitigating circumstances, such as weather, road construction, idiotic drivers (now called "road rage") and such, but in the main, this rule works.

Likewise, if we follow the rules of healthy eating and living, it will usually work in our favour. You likely know these rules better than I do, but I suggest they include a nice mix of a balanced diet, and a deletion processed foods, refined sugars and all the rest of those other miserable restrictions.

My third example is that of building a house: Follow the rules and a solid house results; don't follow the rules and you have built structural grief.

Closer to the point of today's column: The same rules apply to life on the land, whether it involves crops or cows, both of which I admittedly know little about. That hasn't stopped me from trying and failing, then trying and failing some more (but not as much), then trying and getting a better handle on things.

So in grand scheme of things, then, the birth of a calf is a big deal to a "weekend rancher" like me (I like that term better than "gentleman farmer"). The rules of reproduction have been followed, and the result is a healthy calf.

So when I speak of "rules" in this context, I am referring to physiological or natural ones.

I can never quite grasp the mechanics, if you will, of the bull and the cow and what that union produces. Yes, I know about the bull and cow part (or would that be the birds and the bees?), but it's the whole gestational process that results in a healthy calf that amazes me.

And I hope I never get over that feeling of awe.

I also marvel at how each mother and calf bond instantly. Yes, there are exceptions to that rule, but in the main, they are connected instantly. Momma stands still when the calf wants to nurse; the calf is forever at her side; and the calf knows exactly where the milk is.

Uh, udder delight.

How do they both know what to do, having never been taught? Where did all those natural responses come from? I suggest there are some natural rules of inner design that they follow.

This is where I circle back to my "rules" commentary from the top. There are some inherent rules that, when followed, work for the betterment of all.

It's only a matter of days before that calf is eating grass. Where did that notion come from? Why doesn't it go after gophers like a dog does? Or pick away at seeds like a bird does?

This lesson of the calf reinforces the fact that there are rules of design in everything, such as driving, eating, or building, including relationships or lifestyle choices. And these rules of design are not harsh, onerous, or even unfavourable. Work with them, and they work for us.

I have to go now. I think there a calf hiding in the tall grass—just doing what comes naturally.

Something on my Mind: A Calf is Born (1)

Having a calf born is old hat to every rancher within reading distance of this column. I know that, so this will be quite trivial to many of you.

I think I would be considered a "gentleman farmer," though I am neither a gentleman nor a farmer, but that's the conventional term for people like me—a few chickens here, a few cows there (and there and there, when they get out).

But I digress.

Farming or ranching (and I do know the difference) does not come naturally to me. Just ask my wife and kids. But at least I try, and actually get it right sometimes.

I don't do it for a living, unless you call eating a living: On any given day I will be eating the fruit of my labour, though technically it would be called the "protein" of my labour. This comes in the form of eggs, chickens, turkeys, beef, as well as produce from a huge garden

I am a city boy, born and bred, yet for these past sixteen years, plus five years in 100 Mile House a couple of decades ago, I have been a country man, more or less. In 100 Mile House, I just lived on ten acres, whereas here in Southern Alberta, I have learned to utilize all thirty acres.

There are rules when it comes to producing and reproducing, even if the humans sometimes don't seem to get it straight. So, when it comes to cows producing calves, it still takes a bull and a cow.

I know there is something called artificial insemination, but that stuff still comes from a bull.

In my meagre enterprise, I don't have enough cows to justify owning a bull, so I need to borrow one when the need arises—and it arises every summer. Kidnapping a bull is out of the question, of course, because it is a crime; it is also fraught with logistical issues. I would have no idea how to entice a bull into my stock trailer—I just don't think saying "here, bully, bully" would work.

The other plausible option is borrowing a bull from an area rancher. Most ranchers are loathed to loan out their bull for any number of sound reasons--liability being one of them, the well-being of the animal being another.

Fortunately, I have a friend who was willing to lend out his bull to us last year. I had two cows to "service," though one was probably too young and too small to make it work.

I was right and she never caught, but the other one did. She produced another beautiful calf on a recent Monday. Like any newborn's parents—though technically that would be the present cow and the absent bull-- we have had a little "excitement" these past few days with our new heifer.

While there aren't the same demands that a newborn human baby would present, there are others. On the one hand, there are no nursing issues or crying spells throughout the night But on the other hand, human newborns don't need to be tagged within the first few days, don't crawl under barbed wire fences, or seemingly get lost in the high grass.

Our first challenge was catching then restraining the calf, keeping the big momma at bay till the minute-long procedure is over, then watching behind one's back until the pair have moved away in a different direction.

Another challenge was the feistiness of the calf, even within twenty-four hours. We had already chased her, as she ran away from us (see "tagging" above), running through barbed wire fences, or not running at all, just laying low enough in the grass so we could hardly find her.

In fact, she lay so low that even her momma couldn't find her last night, and bellowed enough to wake up the dead. It took a while for us to find her. We were all relieved when we did: I don't know how much more of the Big Momma's noise we could handle.

At least with acres and acres all around us, we wouldn't be bothering our neighbouring ranchers. They have their own racket to worry about.

Cigars anyone?

Something on my Mind:Happy Father's Day to us Dads

In case you didn't notice, this coming Sunday is Father's Day. Whether you're a father or not, you at least had a father and it would be appropriate to honour him.

"Honouring" can take different forms these days, from gifts to texts to phone calls, maybe even a meal out. Probably at this stage of his life a quick text would be fine, though texting may not work if he is screen-challenged.

If you text him, he can read your kind words over and over again. However, if you phone him, just hearing your voice can also go a long way. I have experienced this myself on occasion.

I know there are severe circumstances that may preclude you from doing this. They could be that your dad was abusive (physically, sexually, religiously, or emotionally). Maybe he was never interested in your world in your growing up years, or not involved in your life from the get-go. Perhaps he bolted at the announcement of your mother's pregnancy (so you never knew him).

These are tragedies of the highest order and if you experienced them, I sincerely feel badly for you. With all my failings as a father, at least I was around my children all the time (working outside the home, notwithstanding, in my duty as a provider). Sometimes when I consider any success within my home, it was despite of me, not because of me. (I am not leaving my wife out, but, after all, this is a father-focused column.)

There are books galore on what it means to be a good dad. I've read some of them, and should read more. There is actually another "book," albeit an unwritten one, that is right near the top, namely, life itself.

In other words, you learn as you go.

That doesn't mean that there is no help available for learning fatherhood skills, but sometimes it's a matter of learning by doing. Another factor, of course, is when we have had a good father ourselves, like I did.

The greatest weakness with what I just said is that fatherhood sometime messes with little people—as in our first- and second-borns--—and they often get the brunt of our inadequacies and inexperience.

For my wife and me, we were far more consistent and disciplined with our eldest kids than with the younger ones. I have seen that lightening up in dozens of families. I'm sure some of the older kids in these families resent what they see younger ones getting away with.

That's because we did what we did in light of what we knew back then. A lot of things change within the family structure over a span of twenty to thirty years, and not always for the better.

Let me give you a brief list:

1. communication: I remember in our earlier years that we had a party line phone line (we shared the line with four other homes; and believe me, it was no "party"). Now, every home has multiple phones and many other forms of electronic toys. Back in those primitive years, we had far more control as to what came into our home. That clearly detracts from good fathering skills.

2. information: our own development as parents changes over the decades. We gain further insight on "this matter," or distance ourselves from "that viewpoint." Moving from neophytes to old-timers (from greenhorn to grey hair?) methods change. They shouldn't necessarily, but they do.

3. family size and finances are two other key factors that impact family life, and the role of fathers in particular. As each increase, decisions are affected.

On the one hand, fatherhood is a thankless vocation: Fathers get attacked via movies, social media, regular media, society at large, and even from their kids. But on the other hand, there is no greater joy to see our kids finally grow up and become independent, mature members of this our society.

In fact, that satisfaction could be one of the the greatest Father's Day gifts of all.