Breeding Maggie

When we got our cows, we knew breeding our Jersey heifer Maggie was a top priority. At the time we got her, she was a touch young for breeding, so we decided to wait a few months. We prefer to breed our heifers at about 15 months of age, which means having their first calf when they're about two years old.

Meanwhile, though, we started tracking Maggie's heat cycles. Cows go into heat every three weeks, and we could tell by Maggie's behavior when that time occurred. As Don put it one evening after calling in the cows for the night, "Somebody has pretty bad PMS. She was even chasing Fillet away from the bucket." (Filet, a seven-year-old Angus, is about twice Maggie's size.)

"Don't mess with a teenager on her period," I replied.

At any rate, the time approached when Maggie was ready to be bred. For this task, we utilized the services of a neighbor's young bull, conveniently situated right across the road from us.

Here's Maggie, waiting to get a lead rope on her.

While I had my camera with me, my hands were full dealing with a heifer who didn't necessarily want to get led anywhere. It's one thing to walk an animal around in a corral; it's a whole different thing to walk her down the road into unfamiliar territory. Still, we got it done.

Here's the neighbor's bull. He's a bit over a year old.

The neighbor took Maggie's lead rope and walked her over to the water tank, so she'd know where it was.

It took no time – no time! – for bully-boy to mosey over and investigate the new girl. Look at him speed-walking toward her.

Comically, he seemed a bit shy and unsure. Ah, young love.

We made sure Maggie was doing okay with the neighbor's other cows and his horse, and then left her to her fate. She wasn't in full heat yet (we walked her over on a Tuesday, and her heat cycle was expected on Saturday and/or Sunday), and we planned to leave her there a full week.

Twice a day, morning and evening, as we walked Mr. Darcy, we made sure the peek in on Maggie and see how she was doing. Everything seemed peaceful ... but, crucially, we saw no "activity."

Finally, a week later, we made arrangements to walk her home. "Did you notice anything?" I asked the wife.

"Oh yes!" she replied with enthusiasm. "He was all over her when she was in heat. Now that her cycle is over, she's his new best friend."

So that was good! Hopefully the breeding "took." If not, we'll walk her over again. Meanwhile, if all goes well, we can expect a new baby sometime toward late May of next year, and I'll be back in dairy mode.