Possum The Cow

Possum came to us as a starving, orphaned drought baby three years ago. Her estimated age was three weeks old, although the conditions she was born into obviously would have affected her growth. 

That little calf, who was not yet named, was stubborn and sulky right from the start. We named her Possum after a stubborn goat in a book.

Our other two drought babies took a bottle after the first day, and were soon let free from their ropes. 

Possum, however, refused to suck anything. She even hated a finger being poked in her mouth. Many mornings of straddling the feisty little calf, trying desperately to get her to take a bottle followed. In the end, we gave up. Instead we sprinkled the calf milk powder on her dry food. 

Eventually Possum became quiet and friendly, and we no longer had to step on her rope to be able to get near her. Once she was older and bigger, I decided to try to my hand at halter breaking cattle. Who better to practice on than a small, friendly poddy calf? I didn't realize then the battle I was embarking on. The bigger Possum got, the more stubborn she grew. And sulky. The first time she wore the halter, she tucked herself up into a ball and just lay there, sulking. Being a typical Brahman, she is still prone to sulking even as an adult cow. I tell you, this cow has character. 

As Possum got older, we realized that she had been very well named. This cow is a fruit bat. She'll happily eat banana, apple, pawpaw and the most recently discovered favourite - water melon.

Possum would have you know that she is usually a very dignified lady, and was most displeased with us when she heard about these pictures being shared on the internet. Not to mention the tales of her sulking, and of how she occasionally goes silly and runs around the paddock like a baby calf. Which looks rather hilarious, especially as she is twice the size of the miniature cows that she lives with. 

Possum is now a lovely, healthy, properly sized Brahman heifer, although at age three she is something of an "old maid". Due to being a drought baby, it has taken her a long time to grow to proper size, and be big enough to have a calf. So she (or we, more like) have plans on popping her in with the bull this Summer - hopefully this weekend, once we get the electric fence sorted! If all goes well we will have a little Possum baby by Spring.....

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Do you have any animals with unusual personalities? 

Have you heard of a fruit eating cow before? 

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend!

Sarah xx