Abandoned Baby Cow Was Found On The Side Of The Road, Moments After Birth. Why Wasn’t He With His Mama?

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December 03, 2017

Rescuers in India got a call that an abandoned newborn calf was dumped on the side of the road. Male calves born on dairy farms are often removed from their mothers and discarded typically right after their birth. They are dumped to stop them from drinking even a one drop of their mother's milk.

The dairy farmers view the calves as an unnecessary byproduct of the mother who is producing milk for their profit. This little boy had clearly just been born, as he was still wet from his birth. No baby should ever be taken from its mother like that. They had left him on the side of the road to die, but that's when rescuers stepped in.

They arrived on the scene and discovered a little fellow who was desperate for some love, comfort, and MILK. They took him back to the Animal Aid Unlimited shelter. This sweet little boy was named Dil which means “heart” in Hindi. Back at the shelter, they began to bottle feed him. Rescuers did everything they could to let him know he was safe and loved. Immediately his energy perked and he became a new calf. As the days passed he grew stronger and stronger.

Facts about calves: The first milk produced by mammals is called colostrum. It contains vital nutrients and antibodies for the calf’s well-being, and the calf must receive colostrum in order to be healthy as an adult. Calves must be kept with their mothers for at least 48 hours to ensure they receive adequate colostrum.

Like all mammals, cows must give birth in order to make milk. Like human mothers, they carry their babies for nine months, then begin to lactate for the sole purpose of nourishing their young. Virtually all dairy calves are stolen from their mothers within hours of birth in order to maximize profit. 97% of newborn dairy calves are forcibly removed from their mothers within the first 24 hours. The rest are removed in a matter of days. On so-called humane dairy farms, cows are often taken within the first hour of birth as separation of mother and calf is considered less stressful when they have not been allowed to bond.

Back to Dil’s story. After two months, he now is a healthy and happy boy. He is now ready to leave the baby pen and play with The Big Boys. He will live out the rest of his life in the shelter with other calves who were rescued, just like him.

Thanks to the work of Animal Aid Unlimited, these little guys have a chance at life and a good life at that. At the shelter, Dil is able to run, play, and interact with all his friends. He is clearly one happy boy.

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