Spring Calving: Babies, Babies Everywhere!

Howdy from the ranch!

Spring has officially sprung out here at 2 Coots Ranch, and you know what that means—baby season is in full swing! Our pastures are filling up with wobbly legs, curious noses, and the sweet sound of mamas calling to their new little ones. We’re smack dab in the middle of calving season, which stretches over about two months this time of year, and let us tell ya, it's been a wild (and heartwarming) ride already.

Our Newest Calves

So far, we’ve welcomed five calves to the ranch—healthy, bouncy, and full of personality. Sadly, we did lose one of our girls, little Dollie (Tag 117). She was up and moving and seemed to be doing fine, then we found her gone without much warning. We’re still waiting on necropsy results to understand what happened—could’ve been a milk issue, could’ve been a birth defect. It’s a hard part of ranch life, but one we face with care and a whole lotta heart.

Here’s the current roll call:

• Rosie – Our little speedster! You’ll spot her running zoomies all over the field like she’s got somewhere important to be.
• Dollie – Our sweet girl who didn’t make it. We'll remember her soft eyes and gentle spirit.
• Mary – This one's an escape artist. She's slipped under the fence more than once already. We think she’s part Houdini.
• Waldo – Tiny guy, big mystery. He’s always ducking behind a cow or a hay bale. "Where’s Waldo?" is a daily game now.
• Bossie – A feisty one! Put up a big fuss when tagging time came, and somehow got the whole herd stirred up in protest. She’s got spunk!

Naming Rules on the Ranch:
All our girls get names ending in “ie” or “y”. The boys? They get good strong names that end in “o”—unless one turns out to be a future herd bull, in which case, he earns the right to keep his full name and a little extra swagger.

The Birthing Center (a.k.a. Mama Paddock)

We keep all the expectant mamas in a pasture close to the house during this season—what we like to call our "birthing center." It gives us a good view and easy access to step in if needed. Once calves are born, both mama and baby stay in that pasture for about a month. It’s their bonding time.

After that, the whole pair gets moved out to join our main beef herd. They stick together until weaning, which usually happens around six months. We wean the calves for about a month—give mama time to rest, dry up, and get ready for her next calf. By the time she’s had her spa break (aka more hay, less drama), she’s usually expecting again and ready for round two.

What Happens Next?

• Girls will grow up right here on the ranch. If they’re healthy and strong, they’ll be bred at around 2 years old and join the mama squad.
• Boys are usually steered unless they’ve got the makings of a real fine bull. We keep an eye on 'em between 3-6 months. If one proves himself worthy, he’ll stay intact and be separated from the ladies until it's time for him to meet his future dates.

That’s the update from 2 Coots Ranch this spring. Thanks for following along with our growing herd and all the joys (and heartbreaks) that come with ranch life. We’re honored to share it with y’all.