Science teaches us that the maternal instinct in animals begins at the stage of gestation. A cow expecting a calf can do very unconventional things to protect her baby.
How does a cow know her baby is in danger? Scientists have not yet found an answer to this question – the animal world is much more complex than it seems at first glance.
Another proof of the intelligent behavior of farm animals is the story of the Australian cow Clarabel. After 8 years on a dairy farm, Clarabel was sent to the slaughterhouse when she started losing milk.
The cow was rescued by animal protection officers, who took her to Edgar’s Mission Farm, an agricultural shelter near Lansfield. Very quickly, the farm staff noticed that Clarabelle was pregnant. However, when the due date passed and no calf appeared, they became concerned.
The young girl who takes care of the cows noticed that Clarabelle had been acting the last few days strangely: she was not rushing to the manger, she was constantly looking around and her udders seemed to be swollen.
The girl decided that the cow must have given birth and decided to look for a calf. She had to walk around the farm before finding what she was looking for in a small patch of tall grass.
But it was not a newborn, the calf was already a few days old. He was clean, dry, and well-fed – obviously, the mother had come to lick and feed him.
The girl helped the calf up and it immediately ran off in search of its mother. Their touching meeting was caught on video: Clarabelle licks her calf while he suckles the milk – apparently, he was hungry.
The farm workers wept when they heard the girl’s story – they knew why the cow had acted like this. In order for cows to produce more milk, they are fertilized every year on dairy farms, and newborn calves are taken away immediately.
Bulls are mainly sent for meat, while heifers suffer the same fate as their mothers.
Clarabelle remembers her lost children, and she was keen to keep her youngest daughter, as the cows continue to care for the calves for several months until the babies begin to feed themselves and feel ready to lead an independent life.
As little Clarabelle was found on Valentine’s Day, the heifer was named Valentine. People were very understanding of Clarabelle and told her that Valentina would stay on the farm for the rest of her life.
We don’t know if the cow has understood, but for 6 years, Clarabel and Valentina have been walking together on the farm. Although Valentina has long been an adult, her mother continues to care for her like a child.
