When Russ and I got married we moved to his grandparent's farm. Russ' dad decided shortly after that we somehow needed a cow. A little polled Hereford heifer arrived and we called her Molly. Of course, Russ felt Molly needed "friend". We went out and picked another little heifer and called her Mimi. Mimi and Molly were happy little pasture mates.
Then Russ decided we couldn't have two cows running around without calves so the artificial inseminator arrived. Nine months later we had two little calves. Molly was a very diligent, watchful mother. Mimi not so much.
If Mimi were a person she would be referred to as a "free spirit". Her calf could do and go wherever it wanted. Molly's calf stayed where she was put by her mama.
As our herd grew to several more cows and more calves Mimi became more free spirited. Calves loved her and she didn't care who got a meal at her "house". The calves also figured out if they played with Mimi's calf they could have lots more fun than staying with their own mamas. They would run all over the pasture and mama cows would be running around after them bawling out orders that were ignored by the offspring.
Mimi also learned how to escape. She could get through the fence where ever there was a small opening. We'd look out and she'd be standing in the yard munching grass. Then she'd follow us to the barn, watch us unhook the gate and just go back in without a fuss. After a while the other cows started following her out of the pasture. Since Mimi didn't want to get blamed for all the commotion they caused she would get back to the barnyard first.
Mimi was not dumb. After watching US unhook the barnyard gate-it was a very large hook and eye latch-she figured out how to undo the gate with her tongue. So she'd get out, the other cows would follow and Mimi would go and let herself in. Then we would be running around trying to round up the rest of the group who weren't at all cooperative. We'd finally get them to the barnyard and there would be Mimi standing there all innocent looking like she'd been there the whole time. You could just see the smirk on her face!
You wonder why we didn't fix the fence. You know, half the time we couldn't find a place where the cows got out. Russ would fix the fence when he found a hole but Mimi always created her own place of escape.
We had Mimi for a long time. She died of old age many years ago now but Mimi was a character a farmer doesn't forget. By the way, none of her calves took on the "free spirit" attitude. Thank goodness!
