Welcome to the world, little Snowflake!

One hour old

Buttercup was bred in the pasture to Toro and had a due date anytime from December 14, 2015, to February 2, 2016.  

We watched her close and thought we'd have a New Year's baby.  She had me up a couple times a night for all of January.  But, Buttercup had other plans!  She decided to deliver at the last possible moment, about 11:30PM on February 2nd. I think she was just enjoying the extra attention and didn't want it to end. 

---

​

One day old Snowflake with Buttercup

Ten days old

Our son checked on her at 10:40PM and I went out about 90 minutes later.  When I got out to the barn, just after midnight the morning of Feb 3rd, I found Buttercup chewing the placenta.  The vitamins and minerals in it are a huge boost after labor and delivery and most species of mammals eat it.  

I called my husband to come out to see the calf.  It was tucked behind Buttercup in the fluffy warm straw.  I gently reached under to see if we had a bull or heifer...

​                                        
​A
​HEIFER!!                  


She had already nursed and Buttercup was softly mooing at her.  Snowflake is our sixth heifer in a row.  Actually, we've only had heifers born on our farm since 2012!

She's the last calf to be born to us in the Midwest.  We're doing a Wizard of Oz theme to honor the Kansas roots of our farm.  Snowflake Flurry is named for the snow that falls on Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow as they cross the poppy field and approach the Emerald City in the movie.  The snow breaks the sleeping curse by the Wicked Witch.  A flurry of light snow was blowing around as Snowflake was born.  She even has an delicate white star on her forehead shaped like a snowflake!

Her registered name will be North Woods Snowflake Flurry.  We call her Snowflake.  A registered name has a breeder signifier that tells the farm that pared the cattle for breeding.  Our signifier in the registry is NW.  This tells everyone we're responsible for the quality of that cow.  Our reputation is on the line with every cow we breed.

Take care!

​Milkmaid Lorinda