Our cow neighbors recently added some new members to the herd. I've photographed three, but since then a fourth has appeared.

The operation, in a nutshell, runs like this:

The herd is comprised of females (cows and heifers). Once a year a bull is brought in and left with the herd for a few weeks so he and any eligible females can do their thing. Once business is concluded the bull is removed. The cows and heifers give birth in the field. All calves are given ear tags at the first available opportunity. The tags often look like big, floppy earrings until the calves grow into them. If the calf is a female she will remain with the herd. If the calf is a male he will be removed from the herd after being weaned from his mother. That is normally six months or more after birth.

If you're curious, a cow is a female who has already had at least one calf. A heifer is a female who has not yet given birth to her first youngster.

Kentucky1/400 sec. f/7.1 ISO 400

Kentucky 1/400 sec. f/9 ISO 400

Kentucky 1/400 sec. f/8 ISO 500

Kentucky 1/640 sec. f/8 ISO 500

Kentucky 1/125 sec. f/8 ISO 400

Kentucky 1/100 sec. f/8 ISO 400

Kentucky 1/100 sec. f/8 ISO 400

Kentucky 1/200 sec. f/8 ISO 640

Linking to Saturday's Critters