Fiona
☆ July 13, 2011
I can’t believe I haven’t posted a Fiona status report since her birth! This calf is painfully darling. And it looks like she’s going to grow up to be a dairy cow!
I was curious how the genetic mix of dairy (Daisy) and Angus (Sir Baby) would manifest. Dairy cows are taller and bonier than Angus ~ their energy goes to producing enormous quantities of milk (Daisy is considered a “low-producer” at six gallons a day at her peak) while Angus cows are shorter and stockier ~ they produce enough milk to raise a healthy calf but their udders are much smaller and the bulk of their energy goes toward muscle (meat).
Fiona has Sir Baby’s eyes, as mlaiuppa so astutely noticed right off the bat, but everything else about her is Daisy. She is so tall, compared with Angus calves her age, and has the delicate dairy cow face. Her little teats are not so little when compared with an Angus calf, and she has loose, flappy skin where her udder will be, which leads me to believe she will have an udder like Daisy! Hooray!
Behaviorally, Fiona has followed the pattern I noticed with Baby and Frisco when they were young calves. They let me pet and fondle them for about a week after birth, then went through a stage where they were skittish around people and only wanted to interact with other cows. And then, after about a month of that, it was like a switch was flipped and they became pets.
Fiona followed this pattern to the day. She was a cuddly newborn, then seemed to trust only the other bovines (which did not concern me as I’d noticed the same with Baby and Frisco) and then one day about two weeks ago, she trotted up to me and was like, “LET’S BE FRIENDS!!!!”
Now, every morning after I milk Daisy and open the gate to let everyone out to graze, Fiona trots over to me and nuzzles my face and licks my arms and shoulders and neck and as I rub her down.
Her tongue is still small enough that her licks are a gentle exfoliation – a grown cow’s tongue is so rough it will practically take off a layer of skin. I only let Daisy “groom” me when I’m in jeans and a long shirt, otherwise it hurts too much.
But Fiona’s kisses I will take for as long as I can.
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July 13th, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
Oh, heavens. That face. Also, she is the same colour as my littlest dog. I love cows. <3 Lucky you & lucky her.
July 13th, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
So adorable!I love how you describe each animal’s personality -can’t wait for your next post!
July 13th, 2011 @ 9:58 pm
So cute I think my brain is melting.
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:06 pm
How sweet! And those pictures are to die for :D Gorgeous little Fiona!
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
My family would laugh at me if they knew I was sitting here ooohing and aaahing over a little cow because she’s so pretty! You change people, Shreve! Thank you.
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:19 pm
Everything I know about cows I’ve learned from you. Such a wonderful education about an animal most of us know nothing about.
Fiona is so beautiful she makes me want to have one. But I live in a 1 bedroom apt in Los Angeles so that ain’t gonna happen!
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
Fiona is so cute. You take such beautiful photos of all your family. You do capture their tongues – very cute!
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
Is 3rd photo (side view) Fiona, sure looks like a bull calf?
July 13th, 2011 @ 10:59 pm
she’s not all drooly and snotty like the other cows ive seen. she is very cute. has a sweet face
July 13th, 2011 @ 11:06 pm
Deb ~ all heifer calves look like that for a month or so – it’s where the umbilical cord is and the skin is loose for a while.
July 13th, 2011 @ 11:11 pm
lol can you imagine… a thousand pound dairy cow chasing after you with kisses ! gaaaaa! and sandpaper kisses no less. although i would probably submit to kisses from flicka she is the most beautiful horse i have ever seen, but alas she would probably bite me. i rather imagine that you being part of their farmily makes it less worrisome for you but it creates the question…how friendly are your big critters towards other people?
July 13th, 2011 @ 11:29 pm
She is such a gorgeous creature.
July 14th, 2011 @ 4:58 am
Oh I just want to kiss her
beautiful face!
July 14th, 2011 @ 5:37 am
Do you have big rough horse brushes? They work great on cows, and they’ll love them once they know what they are for. It simulates a cow tongue. Rough on the forehead and around the horns, soft and gentle elsewhere.
July 14th, 2011 @ 5:52 am
Fiona is the most beautiful cow I have ever seen. I love her coloring! I just want to hug her.
July 14th, 2011 @ 6:25 am
She is so beautiful..what a darling face she has..lucky you Shreve, to have such a new BFF
July 14th, 2011 @ 6:33 am
Scotty ~ Daisy and her offspring are hilariously social and friendly, strangers no problem. But they’re not pushy. They’re polite. The others are more wary of other people and just keep their distance.
Tervicz ~ oh yes, they get that daily!
Thanks all! She IS so beautiful!
July 14th, 2011 @ 6:46 am
Can’t…Resist…the…CUTE!!!
…as my brain explodes into candy
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:01 am
Oh! She is such a little beauty! :o)
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:07 am
So. Stinkin’. Cute. I just want to cuddle up and snorgle her!
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:13 am
oh, it’s a FIONA post!! I am so so happy! she is so beautiful. she is so CLEAN. I’ve always noticed how spotless Daisy is, too. Oh she is the most beautiful color.
I had NO idea about dairy cows versus angus cows. that is really interesting! are you surprised that Fiona wasn’t white? Where did that redhead color come from?
I just love her. She is so beautiful.
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:14 am
i think what i love so much about your posts, after the photos of course!, is that the love comes through so freely in your writings. you so perfectly describe everyone’s personality and it is easy to see the mutual respect and love.
i’m a city girl at heart who couldn’t live so remotely, but your writings give perfect insight into how it works for others. your talents behind a camera lens and at a keyboard are true gifts, shreve. thank you for continuing to share.
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:25 am
gorgeous! I noticed in all the pix that the pasture is really green. Do you have to irrigate?
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:09 am
I thought the same as Deb so thanks for the explanation. I’m much relieved that a huge mistake hadn’t been made and we’d have to come up with a boys name lol. Could just be the sunny day but Fiona looks a little lighter in color? Still beautiful and I see you’ve taught her to say Pffft, in that last picture. All babies need to learn that.
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:36 am
APINOL
Thank you so much for recommending it!! I bought some (as we live in the south and I am consumed by mosquitoes).The order arrived after my finger had been bothering me for a couple of days. (It hurt like there was a splinter but appeared to be a blister – since it was on my dominant index finger, this has not been fun).
I put some Apinol on it this morning and IT DOESN’T HURT ANYMORE!! And the blister appears to be fading!
Well worth the price if it does nothing else!
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:47 am
Request: please figure out how to bottle Fiona’s hair color. I want it.
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:47 am
SO lovely and cute! Thank you for updating us about her.
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:55 am
How cute is she, little cow kisses, heaven
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:58 am
You can see her tall, delicate bone structure now. She is a beauty!
I notice her ears are almost like a dogs, moving forward and backward depending on her mood. I imagine you can read a cow’s body language just like you can a dog if you know the words.
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:22 am
Again with the cowlick! HA!
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:31 am
Too cute. I love the last pic. – sticking her tongue out. LOL
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:34 am
Oh! Those eyelashes!
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:34 am
I’m with Laura, I love the last pic with the little “raspberry!! So beautiful..
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:48 am
She is so clean ! So pretty. Cute little baby !
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:07 am
That Color!!!!!!! So gorgeous! She’s a ginger, as the Irish say!
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:09 am
I have really enjoyed the pictures and your words. It’s a learning experience and an escape.
THanks!
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:13 am
oh my goodness; between Fiona and the little lamb picture you shared awhile back, it is a CUTE overload!! She is beautiful, thanks for sharing
peace
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:14 am
What a beautiful red heifer!
Speaking of which, while trying to find a dimly-recalled book title about red cows, I found out that in ancient Judaism, a red heifer was prized as a special animal (I won’t say why), likewise there are Celtic and African legends about red cows. Fiona has a proud heritage, it seems.
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:17 am
What a beautiful calf. We raised a small herd of cattle when I was a teenager, and I kind of miss the babies. They were always darling. Where we currently live, the neighbor nearest our mailbox row has a couple of youngsters. Whenever I stop to get the mail I sit and watch them jump around and play for a while before moving on. lol
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:22 am
Oh, Shreve, she is absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could be there to give her hugs and rub-downs! Thanks so much for the Fiona update.
Interesting about the behavior – I’ll bet it’s largely genetic and was historically important to the survival of bovines in the wild – newborns accepting the world (and any nurturing) as they find it; slightly older babies becoming aware of the dangers around them and the need to stay close to Momma for safety; a bit older still and physically developed enough to run away from a predator if necessary, but also old enough and curious enough to want to explore the world and make it their own.
Most mammals (at least those I know something about) seem to have somewhat similar developmental stages they go through. I’ll bet you’re among the few to notice it with cattle, though, as very few are lucky enough to have such farmilies as yours.
On a technical note, I’m amazed that you can do all this with nothing but a cell phone – I’m lucky I know how to answer mine!
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:37 am
That’s so funny, I would’ve never thought of a cow in the terms you used to describe Fiona. When I see cows in the fields they’re either eating or lying down so my perception of them is pretty limited. Thanks for enlightening me. Also had no idea about their tongues. Very cool.
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:39 am
Fiona is the color of an Aberdeen Angus, but with the short coat of her mother. An Angus calf can have longer hair and a broader face. They are cute, but she is very pretty. Not all Angus cattle are red, but that’s how I always remember them in Scotland.
July 14th, 2011 @ 11:01 am
Needless to say Fiona is living up to her name. She is indeed beautiful! Your comments are always a delight to read. As I was reading, I recalled a time, many many years ago when I was visiting a friend on his farm along with my dog. A calf, probably close to Fiona’s age, came up to my dog and proceeded to thoroughly wash her face! She was absolutely astounded, as were we! Thanks for the long forgotten memory:)
July 14th, 2011 @ 11:06 am
An angel calf!
July 14th, 2011 @ 11:35 am
I’m with Barbara… Angel Calf. Just shiver-producing!
July 14th, 2011 @ 11:49 am
i just want to kiss her face all over. Ridiculous amounts of cuteness going on here.
July 14th, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
Oh. Good. Lord. Strawberry cow! I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she gives strawberry milk… ;) Is she as gorgeously soft as she looks? Also, the “I’m gonna get you!” picture is mindnumbingly adorable.
July 14th, 2011 @ 1:36 pm
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E (x) infinity! :)
July 14th, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
Sigh. I miss calf ‘kisses’. I grew up rurally but have had no access to the farm life for many years. This post brought back such lovely memories of calving season and how the babies would suck your hand. It was so soft and gentle. I know you work hard. I couldn’t do it. But I’m jealous all the same. Congrats on your hard, beautiful life.
July 14th, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
I wonder if Fiona’s dad has the genetics in him to produce a red cow. Cuz if so, I’m wondering if Daisy’s creme colored genes worked on the possible red genes to produce her coloring. She’s the same color as a red dun, minus the dark stripe down the back. That’s my nerdy musing for the day.
July 14th, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Thanks for the big smile you put on my face :D I love letting the horses lick me <3 Haven’t experienced a cow.
July 14th, 2011 @ 3:40 pm
Fiona is exactly why I will never eat veal. Too sweet… I just want to kiss her face!
July 14th, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I also really love bovines, having grown up with cows and cats primarily, although we had some large horses and chickens and pigs when I was little on the farm.
Fiona is just beautiful, and I can relate to the licking, although I never bonded with the bovines as you have, Shreve. A younger sister, who is a Taurus (!!), used to wander around amongst the herd of cows when she was two years old and upwards – they loved her!
These days I am subjected to extensive quite rough licking from Zena, this old crotchety but loveable cat at the cat shelter where I volunteer weekly. She would eat me up if I let her ha ha.
I really enjoy your posts of your life with your animals, Shreve – you are one lucky enterprising and courageous young woman, and I admire you so much!
July 14th, 2011 @ 5:56 pm
Those pics made me smile. I’d love to hear the sounds that she makes.
July 14th, 2011 @ 6:08 pm
what a sweetie pie!! She looks so soft. Thanks for the update – I was wondering how she was doing! and we learn a bit about cow behavior too!
July 14th, 2011 @ 6:27 pm
my eyes! my eyes!! too.much.cuteness. you’re killin’ me Shreve.
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:23 pm
that redhead color…Irish to be sure :)
July 14th, 2011 @ 7:41 pm
She’s so… delicate and refined looking. (: you mentioned that you are milking Daisy, I was wondering if Fiona nurses from her as well or if you bottle feed her. I imagine Daisy produces enough milk for a small army (: What might be the weirdest thing you’ve been able to do with that much milk?
Thank you shreve for the pictures!
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:18 pm
Fiona could have a career in modeling, she is so beautiful… those eyes!!!!
July 14th, 2011 @ 8:32 pm
Love the story! Love the pictures!
July 14th, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
She is so so precious. (I can’t with those photos! Cuteness overload.)
That said, (I’m completely not in the know about bovines, so apologies if the answer to this Q is really obvious) but does her parentage mean that she may not produce as high a volume of milk as Daisy?
July 14th, 2011 @ 10:29 pm
How do you not kiss that forehead constantly?
July 15th, 2011 @ 5:42 am
Did you ever try the ear rub? You can’t have large nails for this and your finger will be dirty. But if you rub gently inside the ear, first at the rim and then steadily deeper and getting out the dirt, they’ll melt in your hands, even the more skittish ones. It’s a real ice breaker and a good treat.
July 15th, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
EXCRUCIATINGLY darling, Shreve… gasp. I am in love… again!
Gaelic meaning of Fiona: “Fair, white, beautiful.” Fair is obvious, white for her beloved mama and beautiful… well, what an understatement.
Looks like maybe these pics were taken just before you headed for the hills, as I see the road and fencing. Is Flicka w/you or is she holding down the fort “down home”?
Marge (#24) – again, ha!
Karen (#45) – YES!
July 15th, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
P.S. – Exquisite pics of Charlie: “Alpha On Alert” and “Song Sung Blue” (PERFECT title!).
July 15th, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Shreve, she is a dandy! I can tell she has a beautiful spirit.
July 15th, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
They are beautiful photos.
When I look at the last photo I hear a little girl’s giggle. A mischevious little giggle, like she is planning something.
July 15th, 2011 @ 8:19 pm
I just left the Windows world and am now an official Mac owner and user and they pictures look even more amazing on Mac. She’s darling!
July 15th, 2011 @ 8:49 pm
What a sublimely beautiful face.
The last picture made me laugh. Our dog sticks her tongue out like that.
July 16th, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
dairy cows are the best! i’m in vet tech school and live in the middle of a suburban Chicago area… we got to go out to a dairy farm and spend some quality time with the bovines. what sweethearts, especially the newborn calves! they are gentle giants, a good reminder for us to slow down and enjoy the flowers.
July 16th, 2011 @ 5:12 pm
i need to paint her.
July 17th, 2011 @ 2:04 pm
love Fiona’s eyelashes! :)
July 18th, 2011 @ 3:00 pm
“…But Fiona’s kisses I will take for as long as I can…”
Well, who wouldn’t?
July 20th, 2011 @ 10:57 pm
Fiona is just to cute, she has such a sweet face, wish i could hug her
July 28th, 2011 @ 11:01 am
I didn’t know anything about cows at all, I just thought they were big lugs out grazing in fields(or being slaughtered for beef). I love animals of all kinds, so you would of thought I would have known better. Thank you Shreve for showing me how lovely and affectionate cows can be. Your pictures are so beautiful and Fiona is sooo cute!
March 16th, 2013 @ 11:42 am
[…] calve” right before they physically calve.” Just like Shreve’s dairy cow Fiona, I think this pregnant female “felt compelled to start mothering, even though she hadn’t […]