Lucky I came home when I did yesterday. I found this little guy outside of the pasture with his momma cow, Betty, inside. She was very upset that she couldn't get to him. I ran, picked him up and put him back inside for her. Betty was grateful until...Pippi showed what a monster she could be.
Pippi put her snout under the new calf and threw him a couple of feet in the air. I chased her away but she and Cyrus, another cow, started running around. They ran over the top of the new calf, luckily they didn't step on him. I picked him up again and carried him into the "maternity ward". Betty happily followed. Before I could get the gates in place to keep Betty and the new calf safely inside, Pippi came into the lean-to to attack the calf again. I chased her away with a stick and got the gates up as quick as I could.
It was very exciting and I'm so glad I was there to help.
We don't know why Pippi or any cow would be so mean to a new calf. I don't know how a new momma would protect her calf from other angry cows. Most farmers have so many cows born that they aren't able to keep track of all of the new deliveries. So, our learning journey about farming continues.