Funny...Pasture Nanny

[swiss.susan]

Hello all, I have a 16 year old Morgan cross that used to be ridden often before the kids outgrew him. Now they are on to other things. He is in the pasture with about 16 Brown Swiss cows. In the past two years, I have noticed he has assumed the role of the babysitter for the new calves. I don't separate my calves, I just leave them on the cow and milk once a day. If the calves aren't nursing, they are with him. Every evening they all come up to the front pasture to be milked and fed, he comes first with the calves and the older girls bring up the rear. Yesterday two of his calves got into our 4-H pen ( where steers are kept ) and didn't know how to get back out. He was in full panic mode, the rest of the herd had gone back to the back and they were being left behind. He had several calves waiting for him to lead them back but he was running up and down the fence calling and the calves were responding, but just didn't know how to get back out. I had to go shoo them out. I understand why he has become attatched to them, but how in the world does he get them to accept him?? ?? They have thier mothers and the rest of the herd. He will stay with this group of calves until the next ones are born, some of the older ones still follow him but he doesn't pay them much mind. We call him the pasture nanny

 

[secuono]

That's really cool! They grew up with him and he is friendly towards them, that's why they love him so much. He might even protect them as they grow if something scary shows up.