Baba and Lotte
A cow story with a happy ending
Our cow Baba celebrates her tenth birthday on 15 November. She gave birth to Lotte in May this year. Baba and her calf only narrowly escaped the slaughterhouse. A passionate animal lover took care of them and knew immediately that they could only find a forever home at Gut Aiderbichl.
A farm for cattle began to totter
The animal lover’s neighbour had a herd of cows and the lady’s heart’s desire was to come true. She was given two cows that could graze together with the farmer’s cattle. She herself sold grain from her organic farm and had always wanted cows. The shared grazing area was a little too small for the total of 14 cattle, but it was possible.
When the farmer retired, the meadow was leased to the lady. The farmer decided that the calves from his herd should be sold and the suckler cows should go to the butcher, so they hoped to find a solution to the space problem for keeping cattle.
Every single cow and her calf was close to the woman's heart
She had looked after the cow families with much love and care and now everything was to come to an end?
A particularly bitter decision had to be made in Baba’s case. She was ill, had a fever and was also pregnant. The vet advised that Baba should be slaughtered, as she would most likely not have survived giving birth. The farmer and the lady discussed the matter, and: The decision was made in favour of life.
Baba fought bravely for her continued life and she was to win
She was given medication every other day until her health improved again. Then came the birth and Lotte, a beautiful cow calf, saw the light of day. The birth went without complications.
Little Lotte is, however, impaired. It is suspected that the medication Baba was given had a negative impact on the calf’s health. If you look at Lotte, the shape of her head is perhaps a little different. Otherwise, however, she is developing well and is enjoying her young life.
Every life deserves respect
The little calf Lotte lacked the vital sucking reflex, and so they patiently tried to bring little Lotte and mum Baba’s teats together. With a lot of patience and love, the lady managed to ensure that the weak calf received its vital milk from its mother’s udder.
But Lotte was also very alert. Barely two days old, she went on the “Waltz” and many people joined in a search to find the young calf. Baba got her Lotte back and an enquiry at Gut Aiderbichl resulted in a free ticket to Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
How are Baba and Lotte doing today?
Our Ruby cow family and her quadruplets Roswitherl, Renaterl, Roserl and Reserl have now been joined by Baba and Lotte. The calves cuddle together in the straw and the two mums Ruby and Baba also seem to be very happy with their lives.
Little Lotte is still a little shy, but is very happy to be tempted by the quadruplets to come to the enclosure fence. Her brown and white fur is silky soft and her tongue licks your hand tenderly if you want it to. Lotte’s beautiful, dark brown eyes shine with the sun.
On the Gut Aiderbichl farms, it is not important whether animals have a handicap, whether all their limbs have grown healthily or whether they can only smell us but not see us. Animals with disabilities are just as welcome as healthy animals that live with us. Neither humans nor animals find happiness in perfection.
