Thanks Messybear - you've made an 8 year old very happy! The school farm project sounds great - good to show kids where their food comes from.

The good thing for us about having a stud rather than a commercial herd is that the bulk of our animals are not sent for meat. The heifer calves are retained as future breeders within the herd, whilst the bull calves (if good enough) will find a home as a sire at someone else's place.

You're right about calves being very likeable and each has it's own personality, just like people. There are some real characters amongst this year's group. I always eagerly await the birth of the next seasons drop, because that's when I see the results of my genetic meddling!