Baba and Lotte
A cow story with a happy ending
Our cow Baba celebrates her tenth birthday on the 15th of November. She gave birth to Lotte in May this year. Baba and her cow calf only narrowly escaped the slaughterhouse. A passionate animal lover took care of the two and knew immediately that they could only find a forever home at Gut Aiderbichl.
A life farm for cattle came into disarray
The animal lover's neighbour had a herd of cows and it was to be a heart's desire come true for the lady. She got 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 common grazing area was a bit 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 mother cows should go to the butcher, so they hoped to find a solution to the space problem for keeping the cattle.
Every single cow and its calf was close to the woman's heart
With much love and care she had looked after the cow families and now everything was to come to an end?
A particularly bitter decision had to be made in the case of Baba. She was sickly, had a fever and was also pregnant. The vet advised to have Baba slaughtered, because she would most likely not have survived a birth. The farmer and the lady consulted and: The decision was made for life.
Bravely Baba fought to keep her alive and she was to win
Every other day, she was given medication until her health improved again. Then came the birth and Lotte, a beautiful cow-calf, saw the light of day. By the way, the birth was without complications.
However, little Lotte is impaired. It is suspected that the medication Baba was given had a negative effect on the calf's health. If you look at Lotte, maybe the shape of her head is a little different. But otherwise 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 patient attempts were made to bring little Lotte and Mama Baba's teats together. With a lot of patience and love, the lady managed to get the weak calf her vital milk at the mother's udder.
But Lotte was also bright. Barely two days into her life, she went on the "Waltz" and many people joined a search to find the young calf. Baba got her Lotte back and an enquiry at Gut Aiderbichl brought the free ticket to Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
How are Baba and Lotte doing today?
Our cow family Ruby and her quadruplets Roswitherl, Renaterl, Roserl and Reserl has now expanded with Baba and Lotte. The calves cuddle with each other in the straw and the two mamas Ruby and Baba also seem to be very happy with their lives.
Little Lotte is still a little shy, but she loves to be seduced by the quadruplets to come to the enclosure fence. Her brown and white fur is silky soft and her tongue gently licks your hand if you want it to. Lotte's beautiful, dark brown eyes sparkle with the sun.
On the farms of Gut Aiderbichl it is not important whether animals have a handicap, whether all limbs have grown healthily or whether they can only smell us but not see us. Animals with handicaps are just as welcome as healthy animals living with us. Neither humans nor animals find happiness in perfection.
