Welcome to part III of our “Who is top cow at Shady Grove Ranch?” series. First we introduced you to Gordita. Next we introduced you to Tilly. Now it is time to let you meet the first cow ever born at Shady Grove Ranch.

Who is Top Cow at Shady Grove Ranch? Part 3 – Tiny

If you recall in the story about Gordita, this tubby, funny-looking old momma cow was purchased at a discount with the intent to turn her into well-marbled, grass-fed hamburger. But Matt has a keen eye and noticed that Gordita was showing signs of imminent calving. Sure enough, one morning, there was a flop-eared tiny little calf in the field. Just for fun, we called her Tiny. She was the first calf ever born at Shady Grove Ranch.

This is Tiny as a newborn calf with her mother, Gordita.

As Tiny grew up, we knew she was something special . She looked just like her momma and was the friendliest cow in our beef herd. It is unusual for beef cows to seek out human contact, but Tiny did. She would often come up and lick a visitor’s hand or pants, even though we never fed the cows treats or anything. Few of our cows would even remain standing close enough to us to allow us to touch them. But Tiny was genuinely friendly and curious and seemed to enjoy making friends with us.

She was spunky, though. Very spunky! She proved that to us early on.

After moving to Shady Grove Ranch in March 2010, we set to work repairing the old fences that existed here and also frantically began installing new electric fences, since we already knew that the only fence cows will truly respect is one that offers a quick electric zap if a cow comes too close. However, we apparently were not quick enough.

One day we received a call from our neighbors reporting that a small group of our cows had paraded down the driveway and taken some nibbles of their shrubbery and lawn. The neighbors, being friendly horse people and used to large animals, had corralled the cows into their round pen in preparation for us to come get them. We apologized profusely and headed over to round up our rogue livestock.

Matt arrived with the cattle trailer and began loading up the cattle. But Tiny, the only calf in the group, did not yet know how to load onto a trailer or how to be herded like the adult cows. Calves are notorious for choosing all the wrong directions to run when humans are trying to herd them along. Tiny refused to get into the trailer!

Since she was so young, Matt decided it would be faster to carry her to her place in the trailer. He approached her and quickly straddled her, trying to collect all her legs so that he wouldn’t get kicked. He immediately felt a dull pain on his shin. He looked and realized that Tiny wasn’t kicking him, but was gnawing on his leg! She bit him!

So that was Tiny’s calfhood—she was spunky, fun to watch, energetic, and healthy.

Over the next two years, she grew into a lovely young heifer cow, and we put her in the big breeding herd with the bull, Big John.

Tiny as a young heifer, early in her first pregnancy.

Within weeks of being introduced to the bull, Tiny was bred, and approximately 10 months later (March 2013), she gave birth to her own flop-eared tiny little heifer calf. What is amazing is that Gordita, Tiny’s mother, also gave birth that very same morning to an identical little heifer. A double blessing for the farmers at Shady Grove Ranch!

Gordita and Grace in front, and Tiny and her new calf in back.

We named Gordita’s calf Grace because we had decided to give Gordita one more chance after a failed calving of twins last year.

Now we need your help to name Tiny’s calf!

Here are Gordita’s calves’ names: Tiny, Mini, Grace.  Now Tiny has started her own line with a cute little female calf. What shall we name her? Please leave your ideas in the comments!

2020 Update

We have made Tiny’s photo into a Farm Fan Club Sticker! Get yours here with your next order!