The Hayseed Files: Chrysanthemum

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum wasn’t always Chrysanthemum.

When Pansy gave birth to a dainty, lively little heifer, we named her Aster. Happily, Aster was up on her feet and nursing within minutes. “She’s a smart one,” Hubby remarked. Other newborns were arriving, one of which was having trouble standing and nursing, so I didn’t get a chance to take Aster’s baby picture until evening. That’s when I noticed her face.

For one thing, Pansy still hadn’t licked the pink and yellow birth fluids from Aster’s face, something that mama cows usually do right after delivery. Second, Aster’s nose looked too skinny because it lacked the normal amount of fluff. What hair she did have was fine and short.

We wondered if perhaps Aster was born prematurely, or even if she had some milder form of birth defect known to occur in Herefords, in which calves are born with little to no hair. Aster had more than that, but we worried about sunburn and cold. Was she smart enough to stay in shade or shelter when needed?

We prayed, and I rechristened her after the fluffiest flower that I could think of: Chrysanthemum.

In many respects, Chrysanthemum is strong and healthy. She loves playing with her siblings and can run faster than most. (Less wind resistance?) Her face has gradually gained fluff, although she still doesn’t have enough hair around her eyes.

It irritates me that Pansy never has licked her heifer’s face clean. A cow pasture isn’t spic and span, but the other mamas wash their babies several times a day. I don’t know if she’s embarrassed of Chrysanthemum or just a slob.

What Chrysanthemum lacks in beautiful locks, though, she makes up for in smarts and style. One cold, rainy, windy morning when Hubby was feeding the herd, he watched Chrysanthemum come out of the calf shed. Instead of heading into the wind-propelled rain to get to the hay, she promptly turned and backed all 75 or so feet to breakfast. He was impressed.

1 DAY OLD