Cow Therapy Program

At Discovery Ranch South, our feeder calf program offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for your teenager to develop empathy, responsibility, and love. The calves offered for adoption have been orphaned, as dairy farmers take them from their mothers to allow for milk production for the dairy industry. With our students' care and support, these vulnerable calves have a significantly better quality of life than they would have had at the dairy farm.

wistia-video-thumbnail
discovery-ranch-cow.jpg (1)

Adoption Opportunity for Orphaned Calves

The orphaned calves are usually around a day to a week old when they arrive at Discovery Ranch South. Through our students' care and support, these newborn calves receive the nurturing they need at this critical time.

The calves come to DRS craving nurture and connection. They come to see their student as a caretaker and mother figure. The calves come in scared and uncertain, similar to our new DRS students. Through feeding and connecting with their calf three times a day, they create a special bond, and their calf comes to recognize their student. Also, caring for something outside themselves gives the students the chance to get out of their own heads and focus on what their cow needs in that moment.

This therapy has been especially effective for teenagers who are adopted. Adoption issues are often brought to light as teens care for their calves.

Developing Love Through Service

The calf program has helped many teenagers to learn how to express love. Some of our students have expressed their innate desire to help the calves survive and thrive. The experience helps young people develop responsibility. After all, they must care for their calves no matter the weather, even on days they do not feel like doing it.

Overcoming Self-Centered Attitudes

Many teens who come to the ranch relate better to animals than to people. The experience of taking care of a calf is a model of relationships. Therapists use this model to help teenagers understand human relationships.

Your teen will also learn about hard work. Helping their calf survive and thrive daily helps to develop responsibility. Your child will learn about sacrifice and service. They will develop empathy. As they become more empathetic, selfish and self-centered habits and attitudes will decrease.

If their calf thrives, then your teen will feel a sense of accomplishment. They will develop the ability to put someone else's needs before their own. Sometimes, even when given the best care, calves can struggle. If your teenager's calf gets sick, then they will learn to administer meds to help keep them healthy. All the calves are vaccinated, and the greatest efforts are made to keep them as thriving as possible.

discovery-ranch-girl-with-a-horse (1)
Cow Therapy Program

Relationships Transitions

Unlike some pets, such as dogs, calves do not form a lifelong bond. Calves move from complete dependence to independence in a short time. After bottle feeding, the calves start alfalfa feed and the calf starts to individuate from their student. When calves are four months old, they are old enough to move on to local ranches. As your teen's calf reaches this age, we focus on the calf leaving campus as another progression in the relationship transition.

Learning to let go of a calf that they love parallels the experience of parents. Your teen's therapist and support staff will help them to process the experience of letting go. This experience will help your teenager to develop empathy for their own parents.

Additional Resources: