Two weeks ago I drove to Bodega to deliver a photographic print purchased as a gift.

The image she selected was a cow above the tall cliffs just north of Jenner.

On my way back, I spied a cow alongside route 1 with a placenta hanging out her backside.

What follows are a fraction of the amazing images I recorded as she gave birth to one huge calf.

The rancher said it was her first calf, a very large female, born to a large two-year old cow.

Less than fifteen minutes after being flung from her mothers’ uterus, this tiny cow struggled on noodle-wet legs to stand for the first time. Her mother licking her from head to toe during the entire process.

Click an image to see a larger version.

—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

.