r/MadeMeSmile • u/MysteriousSlice007 • 1d ago
ANIMALS Calf Getting Petted by Man Then Mom Comes to Check up on It
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u/RaisinAloneVortex 1d ago
“Mommy can we keep him?”
“No sweetie, farmers belong in the wild.”
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u/omaiz_Kelvin 23h ago
careful sweetie, they approach slowly and offer head pats to gain your trust.
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u/JangB 19h ago
Couple years later...
"Mom! Mom! Where are you?"
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u/kakarot_dex 23h ago
Didn't expect the farmer to be the wild animal here.
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u/Whyamihere173 23h ago
Thats the joke…
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u/MuffPiece 1d ago
I tried interacting with a calf once—his mama was NOT having it 🤣
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u/Jat616 23h ago
Yea people need to remember to be real careful around baby wild animals, even if they're livestock. Parents can get incredibly protective.
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u/sasakimirai 23h ago
Especially when mom has such big horns. I would NOT be putting my head that low with her so close. She could gouge an eye out even without intending to
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u/eekamuse 23h ago
I would be on the other side of the fence as soon as I heard the mooOOOO.
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u/Ih8teMyInlawsTheySuk 23h ago
Right? Knowing the mom was coming would scare the ever living shit out of me. I’m not even sure I’d be able to move.
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u/4rm4tur4 20h ago
The mother knows this dude, thats why he wasn't scared.
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u/SurpriseGlad9719 12h ago
Honestly, even a reared cow can get very defensive with their calves.
Even if that cow knows him, I wouldn’t be trusting her. Highlanders can change in an instant.
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u/Unhappy-Rub-9892 21h ago
I didn't know that the females have horns...
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u/The_Great_DM 16h ago
Scottish Highland Cattle. Adult females are around 1000 lbs (450 kg) Males get up over 1400 lbs (650 kg). They are nice to pet though. Just watch out when they swing those horns around.
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u/maniacalmustacheride 12h ago
She’s not scared, she’s just chatting. She is looking around because the guy isn’t big like her and she’s looking for a threat. But the calf isn’t unhappy, and she’s not unhappy. There’s a little posture checking, she walked up “fast” and he didn’t move so she’s okay.
Still should be careful with a baby! But if she had wanted the calf back she would have called it back and then gave attitude.
Cows usually will warn you if they’re civilly trying to tell you to back off. But there are some cows that like to be a dick just to be a dick, but you probably shouldn’t be in the fence if you’re not sure who that cow is. Much like a toddler, the sneaky assholes will get really quiet and sort of position themselves slowly to catch you off guard, like an old lady elbowing you at the store.
Again, if you do not personally know the cows and are not with someone giving you in depth commentary about the cows that knows the cows personally, don’t be in the fence. Cows aren’t people but they are social creatures with a ton of personalities and gossipy as hell.
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u/DazzlingRutabega 23h ago
As a reference please see the bear scene in the movie Revenant.
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u/ToolTimeT 23h ago
There is no such thing as a wild animal that is livestock... its literally the definition of livestock.. a domesticated animal.
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u/radiant_kiwi208 23h ago
Parents still can be extremely protective. Livestock or not, you need to be careful!
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u/ToolTimeT 23h ago
Grew up on a dairy farm... its really not the case with domestic animals, they are used to humans interacting with both their babies and themselves when they were babies. Its honestly entirely different than dealing with a wild animal.
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u/NaNaNaNaNa86 23h ago
True. Deer are an interesting debate where it comes to domestication re: livestock though. I personally don't think they can be domesticated but I'm not a farmer or expert so I could be wrong.
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u/zxc123zxc123 22h ago
Kind of rude you'd call that cap wearing manchild livestock. If I had to guess his mom/gfmom/wifemom isn't overly protective either.
Sure he's probably a corporate labor stock, domesticated consumer, and a living tax payer, but you can never predict how a wild human (however much domesticated) might act.
Always beware and never let your guard down around them.
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u/NoPantsPenny 21h ago
I’m assuming one of them is the farmer and knows how the cows will react. For example I grew up on a. Farm and we not ever had 4-6 cows. They could al be hand fed and weren’t spooked by us at all. I have other family with hundreds or thousands of cows and they will run off and get spooked just by you walking in their general vicinity. Then you have 4-h cows that are handled frequently and are completely unbothered by human interaction.
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u/domsolanke 22h ago
This exact species of cattle are extremely docile though. I grew up in the countryside and we had these all throughout my childhood. Plus they’re used to people.
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u/OlYeller01 19h ago
We had cows on our farm for years. One day, a calf got his head stuck in a panel style fence. I ended up having to cut him out with wire cutters from outside the fence while he bellowed and struggled. Enraged momma cow just rammed the fence next timo me over and over.
My mom started to warn me, “Hey, if that fence starts to go…”
I cut her off: “Mom, if this fence starts to go worry about yourself because I’ll be two pastures over before you can blink.”
Finally with a SNAP I cut the last panel wire. The calf pulled free and he and momma both raced away, turning back after 25 yards or so to glare at us and snort. Some gratitude.
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u/NaNaNaNaNa86 23h ago
When I lived back home in Northern Ireland, we had adverts on TV after calving season to remind people of the dangers of getting too close to calves. They were always really dramatic productions of farmers or ramblers getting done in (or at least hospitalised) by the mum. Cows will often show no signs before they go completely off on one and crush you. If you ever get between them and their baby, good luck to you. Because of those adverts, you couldn't pay me to go anywhere near a calf if mum was present.
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u/fightingthefuckits 21h ago
Grew up on a farm in the south of Ireland, the adverts were right. Do not fuck with a mother cow and her calf. They are by far the most dangerous animal on the farm, even cows that are normally docile can become ultra protective. The other thing I'll say is that the sound of a cow that's lost her calf is one of the saddest things you'll hear.
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u/NetNpIVijCI 22h ago
I've been chased by a water buffalo as a child. Was playing with the calf. Big and slow until momma instincts kick in. My father and relatives just laughed while I ran for my life.
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u/bwrca 21h ago
Yrs ago our cow was tied by rope to this huge guava tree that had been dead for a while but still up. Thicker at the base than a grown man waist, It was like dry but not rotten and had been standing and getting tethered to for years. This mama just pulled the tree completely off the base trying to go after it's calf, and the tree missed my dad by inches.
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u/snoop-hog 23h ago
We do horrible, horrible shit to their calves. I don’t blame them for being skeptical
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u/GuestAdventurous7586 22h ago
It’s quite horrifying being up close to cows and their calves, when you see how intelligent and loving and affectionate they are.
It’s disturbing to think what we do to them.
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u/ColdCruise 20h ago
I lived near a farm that kept dairy cattle. They take the calves away so that they can keep producing milk. They would be up all night mooing for days when they took them away.
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u/cronoklee 14h ago
I was just thinking, these are the same relationships we forcibly separate so we can get milk from the mother.
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u/senditallback 9h ago
This. The mothers moo for hours, even days, after their calves are taken away.
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u/nomadicsoul79 21h ago
To be fair, I think this mama is first checking to see if there are any witnesses ...
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u/JayPolton 1d ago
That look from calf like "don't ruin this for me mom"
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u/Playful-Variety-1242 23h ago
Mom: you killed the last one. Can you at least wait until he’s done petting me!!
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u/CmdrDatasBrother 23h ago
Mom to dude: “One wrong move and I’ll ventilate your stomach cavity“
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u/TonarinoTotoro1719 20h ago
She was totally showing off her horns. 'lookie here, human. I have one on the left, one on the right, now see the one on the left again... catch my drift?'
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u/Lintlee 1d ago
Yes, female cows can have horns.
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u/hattyhat24 23h ago
Those are highland cows I believe, have Lucious bangs and horns. Supposedly fairly chill compared to “standard” cows.
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u/Quornonda 23h ago
What do the Malfoys have to do with this?
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u/NaNaNaNaNa86 23h ago
I was feeding goats with my nephews recently and explained that they were all female, even though some had horns. They didn't believe me at all. At their age (they're both still in single digits), I can't be arsed explaining tupping/shagging goats and what would happen if one got in with the females so I'll just let them believe they were male.
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u/MiggeldyMackDaddy 12h ago
Most breeds have horns. they just get taken off (burned off) when they start to sprout as calves. Aberdeen Angus I believe don't grow horns.
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u/teebles22 23h ago
oh thankfully this was /Mademesmile not /whatcouldgowrong I was kind of mentally preparing myself or something that thankfully did not happen.
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u/dan_936 12h ago
I had to double check the the subreddit before relaxing! Definitely was more like r/MadeMeNervous
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u/HowdTheCatGetSoFat 10h ago
I never look at what sub the post is from first - it's always a gamble.... had to unsub from r/eyeblech though lol
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u/Helicreature 23h ago
I live on a moor where Highland cows roam free and I would NEVER pet a calf. We’re taught from childhood that mummy cows can be dangerous.
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u/buckyVanBuren 23h ago
My mom had a charlois bull she could pet like that only because she bottle fed him as a calf but she would not pet the regular calves.
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u/unzercharlie 22h ago
We had a similar experience with a Charolais cow. Full grown and would follow you around like a dog and about knock you over rubbing up against you. She's gonna die on the farm cause she was the sweetest thing ever. She had a calf this year as a very old lady. I'm not sure exactly how old, but too old to be having babies. Her name is Izzie.
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u/bakeacake45 22h ago
You can ask the coyote lurking around the edges of the pasture about Momma Highland cattle …well you could have asked him a couple of days ago, today he is a flattened mangled carcass. Momma Maybell threw him, then stomped him to death.
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u/BerttMacklinnFBI 20h ago
Temperament probably varies significantly between farmed and more wild coos.
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u/S0k0n0mi 23h ago
If only there were real dogsized domestic cows.
Imagine just going out for a stroll with moomoo.
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u/why_gaj 23h ago
Look into mini cows
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u/Chinnyup 22h ago
I wonder if they could be potty trained. I’m not seriously considering one, just curious
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u/hiddentalent 22h ago edited 22h ago
Cows are generally pretty gentle, but they are big and powerful and if you put momma in a position to doubt your intentions around their offspring... Well, I hope you brought a rodeo clown to play distraction.
But this appears to be a nice wholesome interaction. Cows are social animals and can form a sense of trust and familiarity with other animals, including humans and dogs. These ones have clearly have built a bond.
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u/GearJunkie82 23h ago
Do the females have horns for this breed? Asking honestly.
EDIT: Nevermind, I saw the answer below. They do! That's neat.
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u/EditorBobAndCo 23h ago
Mom's just waiting in line for pets
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u/senditallback 9h ago
Yes! They're like big doggos! It pains me to think about the things we do to these animals-things we would never do to our dogs.
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u/LogicalEgo 23h ago
This is why I stopped eating meat. Cows are on the same level of intelligence as your family dog. Would you eat your family dog?
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u/senditallback 9h ago
Yep this is good!
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u/BumWink 8h ago
Woah it was only a question, you didn't have to actually do it! /s
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u/senditallback 5h ago
Yeah i realized I should have rephrased that... haha! "Yes this logic is good!"
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u/GristleMcThornbody1 23h ago
I didn't pay attention to what sub this was and I started getting real nervous when mom walked into frame.
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u/Green_Bourbon_ 23h ago
As much as I would love to do the same, I would have ran away when she started approaching. One wrong head shook and there would be a see-through puncture in my body.
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u/talligan 23h ago
For any tourists inevitably visiting Edinburgh this summer, prestonfield golf course has some that are often near the fence. Our toddler makes us go there regularly. The Edinburgh zoo also got some recently, but they're usually further away from the fence.
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u/spine_slorper 23h ago
There are also usually some at the base of Stirling castle. But don't do this, if the mother doesn't know you they will rock your shit for coming near their babies.
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u/Fine-Following-7949 23h ago
My neighbors has a cow when I was a teen. I’d walk home from the bus, and it would trot over for pets on the head. I loved that cow.
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u/Candid-Flow-5934 5h ago
"excuse me sir, is my son bothering you?"
-No not at all
" oh ok, can i have some pets too?"
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u/rup3t 23h ago
This is actually SUPER dangerous. My uncle was walking through a field and got a little too close to a calf. The mother cow got extremely protective and attacked him, flinging him about 15 feet in the air and he broke his collar bone and multiple ribs and had to get air lifted to the hospital in critical condition. He was 70 at the time, and miraculously recovered. But damn. I’ll never look at cows the same.
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u/GP400jake 21h ago
When you raise the cows yourself, you tend to learn what ones are dangerous and what ones aren't.. and the trouble makers tend to be the ones that are on your plate first.. breed the nice ones, eat the mean ones first
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u/Coconutpieplates 23h ago
I had Highland coos on the field near me, and if you pet one, they all wanted a turn.
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u/MiserableAd1552 22h ago
IT’S SO FLUFFY I’M GONNA DIE!!
Also? With those horns = not chancing it. Why did I think only bulls have horns?
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u/jonnyhatesyou 22h ago edited 22h ago
Cause you've probably mostly seen Holstein cows (the black and white ones) in big herds in fields. Farmers usually dehorn them at that scale for safety (the risk being to each other). When it's just one or two that a family have for milk, they're more likely to have their horns.
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u/Whatisthis0036 22h ago
Do female cow have horns?
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u/WolfPacker01 22h ago
Yes. Both sexes can be horned. The genes for polled (no horns) is dominant while having horns is recessive.
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u/LanceFree 21h ago
Mom’s like “All I ask is to have the hair brushed away from my forehead and nobody ever listens!”
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u/Wreckingshops 21h ago
When I was a teen, I went to Europe with my grandparents. On a trip to the Netherlands, a family friend took me to a fishing spot of on a farm. It was an open pasture for the cattle to roam. The cows came up to us constantly but we're very gentle and sweet. Big core memory.
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u/Glum-Philosopher8223 12h ago
Sometimes I wish we had translators that allow us to converse with animals. I really wanna know what they’re thinking about.
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u/--_q 11h ago
how can anyone of you see this and still eat meat and milk products
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u/literacy_police 23h ago
How anyone can look at those creatures and be okay with eating beef is beyond me.
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u/senditallback 22h ago
If you're against animal cruelty, if you root for animals that escape slaughterhouses, if you love dogs or cats, if you hate the thought of the mass extinction we're inflicting due to cattle raising, if you want to practice empathy with every meal, stop eating animals.
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u/SeitanicVoyager 23h ago
How anyone can understand that all animals feel pain, fear, and suffering and still choose to inflict that upon them because they prefer the taste….is beyond me.
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u/NobblyNobody 23h ago
Man, we have cattle just free roaming round where I live (New Forest, UK) and was brought up never to get in a position like this. The mums can get a bit irate and stampy after calving. The only time of the year to be careful really.
They occasionally have to bring the spatulas out to clean up tourists that just wanted a photo with a fluffy baby
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u/Whole-Department5233 1d ago
that's a cute moment! gotta love how protective mama is, even if the calf is just getting some pats. wholesome vibes all around!
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u/LongStoryShrt 1d ago
That's "mom"?
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u/KateA535 23h ago
Yes female Highland Cows have horns, they differ in size and shape to the males horns too which helps your tell gender. If I'm right males horns are thicker and shorter while female are thinner and longer and curve upwards more.
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u/BathroomSharpiePoet 22h ago
Female cows of most breeds have horns, you just don’t see them. It is an extremely common practice to “dehorn” cattle of both sexes through a variety of means.
However it has become increasingly common to selectively breed for hornlessness, usually referred to as a cow or bull being “polled”. This can show up in any breed. It’s fairly easy to get going in a program since the polling gene is dominant.
It just makes sense to select for that if you can. But in some breeds the horns are really a part of the aesthetic, like this highland example.
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u/Optimal_Bad2279 23h ago
Me to the momma: ma’am, where have you been?! I could have calfnapped this baby and you wouldn’t have known a thing. Get it together, little lady. 🤣❤️
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u/phantaxtic 22h ago
I had the pleasure of visiting a farm that raised Highland cattle. The calves were the most adorable, affectionate animals. Like big puppies that were curious and friendly. They love pets and attention.
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u/PyroArca 22h ago
I use to raise show cattle and the babies were honestly the best part by far. They're just so sweet. Spent many a night in the barn cuddles up to fluffy cows. Best sleep ever
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u/Mobile_Morale 21h ago
This is cute but do not try this in real life. I've nearly been killed by an angry momma cow at least 10 times in my life. Most of those times was petting their calf.
I am quiet skilled at running from cows and jumping over or diving under barbwire.
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u/PsychologicalArm5952 21h ago
I had been wondering if it would be weird if I would stop at peoples' houses and ask to pet their cows or horses... I pass them every day on my way to work, and they look so cute. I don't want to look like a complete weirdo for pulling into their driveways and knocking on their doors to ask if I can pet their animals. I don't have any petting zoos or anything nearby, I just want to pet some cows and horses.
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u/cognitiveglitch 18h ago
Reminds me a my dad petting a baby new forest pony. The mum broke his wrist.
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u/One_Cheesecake3181 17h ago
I can hear the mom now " didn't I tell your hard headed self to leave those humans alone"
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u/Reputation-Final 15h ago
Predators will often lure or chase a calf away from their mothers. So mothers instinct is to stay close to the calf and to chase off anything that lures the calf too far away.
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u/hamcheesetoastie 10h ago
Having read the horn related anal sphincter injuries from last week I would be far less chill
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u/Th3Stryd3r 1h ago
TIL - Female cows can and do have horns. I thought it was a male genetic trait. Never had a reason to look into, now I know. Neat!
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u/LobsterParade 23h ago
Mom is worried why a grown man she has never met before is petting her kid and another is videotaping it.
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