Phil’s Big Update: Out of Hiding and Back With Friends

Hi friends, it’s me again, Phil! 🐮

(Did you miss Phil’s first story? Meet Phil here.)

Guess what?? My mommy, Vivien, finally decided to behave this morning and let her milk down. That means the nice bottle lady could finally fill my bucket properly! 🥛

And the best part? Since mommy is cooperating now, I got to come out of hiding and join the other bottle calves. 🎉 No more being tied to the wall by myself — now I can drink my morning milk with my friends!

📷 It's not a lot of milk, but this is a great start!

The bottle lady even caught a video of me enjoying my milk bucket with the others.

(Spoiler: I think I’m the cutest one 😉)

Thanks for all your prayers that my mama would behave. Looks like they worked!

Love,
Baby Phil

Farmer’s Note 📝

Phil’s story may sound silly, but there’s an important management lesson behind it. When a cow refuses to let down her milk, it can create serious problems:

• Engorgement & risk of mastitis if the udder isn’t emptied.
• Stress for both cow and calf when milk access is inconsistent.
• Unreliable milk supply for the family when the cow will only release milk to her calf.

By holding my ground, Vivien finally gave in and let her milk flow this morning — which meant Phil could move back with the other bottle calves and start a normal bottle calf feeding routine.

This is exactly why we don’t calf share at Mountain Heritage Farm. The early days may involve a little struggle, but once a cow learns to give her milk freely, we enjoy smooth, reliable milking twice a day for the next 7–9 months. That consistency keeps both our cows and our calves healthy — and ensures safe, dependable milk for families.