In mid-July I added the two final cows to my starter dairy herd…
I had always planned to get four cows to start my initial herd. The first two, Polly and Indigo, have always been tremendous cows. I didn’t think I could get bovines better than that, but…. when Krimson and Eliza showed up, I was blown away once again.
Krimson and Eliza came from Scapeland Farm just south of Middlebury VT from one of my farmer-idols, a woman who is well regarded for raising healthy, mild mannered Ayrshires with great genetics and milking components.
These gals are two of the sweetest, friendliest cows I have ever met, and they integrated seamlessly with Polly and Indigo.
Krimson
Photo credit to goat hiker Barry F.
Krimson is super friendly, and loves coming up to me for scratches and neck rubs. While the other cows tend to shy away from people, she likes to be near them. She is beta-cow, just behind Polly in the herd hierarchy, although it wouldn’t surprise me if she takes over one day.
Eliza
Eliza is the youngest of all my cows- just barely out of the teenage phase of life. She likes running, which is funny to watch because usually dairy cows are quite slow and lackadaisical. She is Krimson’s shadow, going wherever Krimson goes. If you look at her straight-on, you will notice that her head is slightly tilted to the side. She was born that way, but it doesn’t effect her ability to function normally. She’s a bit of a derpy cow, but as always, we love her for it!
My herd finally feels whole and I love these cows with my whole heart. There’s no doubt in my mind that the dairy-farming life was meant for me.
