Mona is a Mom!

Exciting times here at Finca Ometepe! Yesterday, our beautiful cow Mona gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, and I’m happy to report that both mama and calf are doing great. While we’ve had two other cows give birth here on the farm, this was the first time Håkan and I were almost present for one… emphasis on almost.

I spent most of the night patrolling with a flashlight, checking on Mona regularly, but of course she waited until I finally fell asleep at 3:30 a.m. to deliver her calf. Sigh. I had really hoped to witness a live birth, but clearly Mona preferred her privacy. Fair enough.

She’s proving to be an excellent mother and an overachiever in the milk department—already producing about a gallon a day, and it’s only day two. That’s far more than one little calf can manage, so we’re milking her twice daily to keep her comfortable and sharing the excess with our dogs and cats, who are absolutely thrilled with the arrangement. 

It’s a joy to watch the two of them out in the field together—quiet moments like this are a big part of why we’re here.