The “Babysitter Cow” Theory

[Oldtimer]

An article written by my neighbor for the Northern Ag Network:

The "Babysitter Cow" Theory

Friday, April 24, 2015


Little mounds of bovine babies scatter the landscape. There's an ear twitch here and a buck over there. Through it all, a feeling of secure contentment prevails. Amidst the new life is a figure of knowledge. This is "babysitter cow." How does this female become the solo savior of the calves?

"It just seems like the last one left there nursing her calf, just by default," says Nancy Okerman, "is the one that ends up being the babysitter cow." As a rancher in Miles City, Montana, Okerman has spent several decades observing the phenomena. She has her theories as to why it happens.

Speaking from observation, she says that cows will often let their calves nurse and then, as they sleepily bed down, wander off to graze or get water. The scenario shifts from meal time to last cow standing. "I think it's instinct for them not to leave all those calves alone to be susceptible to coyotes or other predators," theorized Okerman.

Along with the cow's instinct, a calf's instinct also plays in. Should they be out on a calf excursion and become disoriented, a calf's instinct is to go to the last place that it had contact with or nursed from its mother. With or without mama there, this is likely that place with other calves bedded down and babysitter cow watching over.

What do you think? Have your own theories about babysitter cows? Feel free to share below!



© Haylie Shipp 2015

 

[branguscowgirl]

Makes sense to me. It is as good of an explanation as any.

 

[Supa Dexta]

I've been watching one young cow (a 3yr old) for a while now. She hasn't calved herself this year yet - but she's always standing around the next one to calve. And then always hanging around the calving pen once one is born. She doesn't stick around when I show up, but it is noticeable that she's playing that role.

And it sort of helps me out to locate the cow I'm looking to check up on, cause this one will be standing with her. There's another one who's the 'boss cow', who does similar things, but not as reliably as this young one.

 

[LauraleesFarm]

Welllll I will disagree. I have had various ones playing the role of babysitter including young heifers in with the bull for the first breeding, the bull himself, and a horse i used to own. All took turns at babysitting.

 

[dun]

Welllll I will disagree. I have had various ones playing the role of babysitter including young heifers in with the bull for the first breeding, the bull himself, and a horse i used to own. All took turns at babysitting.

Yup, except for the horse I've seen all those happen too. Got a yearling heifer in with the newly calved heifers that is frequently the babysitter.
Cracks me up to see the bull laying aorund contented and surronded by little calves.

 

[fenceman]

Welllll I will disagree. I have had various ones playing the role of babysitter including young heifers in with the bull for the first breeding, the bull himself, and a horse i used to own. All took turns at babysitting.

Yup, except for the horse I've seen all those happen too. Got a yearling heifer in with the newly calved heifers that is frequently the babysitter.
Cracks me up to see the bull laying aorund contented and surronded by little calves.

In my observations its fairly common for a yearling heifer to be assigned babysitting duties. Much like humans will use a teenage girl. Cows definitely seem to take turns .

 

[LauraleesFarm]

While babysitting, the calves bobbed my horse's tail and she was quite content to let them do it. I honestly think she did not know she was a horse.

 

[gizmom]

Thanks for sharing OT, sounds like a reasonable theory to me.

gizmom

 

[M-5]

I watched a first calf heifer baby sitting yesterday evening. She was worked into a tizzy with the calves running and playing. It was funny

 

[3waycross]

My buddy has a Hinny that runs with his cows. She usually adopts a calf every year and shadows it most of the time. The last two years the cows have started using her as a babysitter, and she loves it.

 

[cow pollinater]

A couple of my eared cows will babysit even when they're still dry. I tend to see the same cows babysit over and over.

 

[Annabel]

Welllll I will disagree. I have had various ones playing the role of babysitter including young heifers in with the bull for the first breeding, the bull himself, and a horse i used to own. All took turns at babysitting.

Same here the last bull we had often was the babysitter and they weren't his calves at first. Yesterday we had a young heifer minding them. But I do wonder if it is the last one lift behind. Cattle are a lot smarter than we think.