Every lady her name …

Since my farm blog has existed, you’ve been able to read quite a bit about our life and the farm residents – whether two-legged or four-legged. When we talk about our animals here at the farm, it’s never really about “the sheep”, “the goat”, or “the dog”. Just like us two-legged ones, all our animals have their own names and none are duplicated. You’ve probably noticed in the blog posts when I write about Molly, Nelly, or Fiona. But so far, it’s mostly been about our small animals from the children’s barn.

But it’s not just there that everyone gets their own personal name. Because our dear cows, who are the central point of our farm, also get their names. You might think we only do this for fun for our holiday guests, but every animal at the Zittrauerhof deserves to have its own name, and it’s also important for a breeding farm and is precisely recorded by the breeding warden. And so, our cows proudly bear their names and have nameplates in the barn. Every cow has her specific place, even on the alpine pasture when they are milked.

Sometimes cows are moved to a different spot and first have to get used to the new stall. Or a heifer comes over to the cow barn before she has her calf. Then it’s often difficult at first for her to find her place right away, and she has to be more precisely “guided” by us. Even now at the start of the grazing season, it takes a bit more time and peace until all the cows are in the right place. However, Matthias says the cows’ names when letting them into the barn, which makes it easier for us to guide them, and the cows get used to finding the right place faster.

If a calf is born and it’s female, the “cow calf” also gets the mother’s letters, usually the first two. E.g., Karina is the mom, Katja is the daughter. KA – KA. At least that’s how it is on our farm.

I think it’s nice when cows still have a name on the farm and aren’t milked and cared for by a robot’s hand. You too?? Best regards and have a nice evening, your farm lady Katharina.