Tiny calves in survival fight

When stalking in the Highlands this autumn, we came across a parcel of hinds that had two tiny calves with them. My companion stalker said that she had not come across this before, but she had seen four or five very small calves on the hill this summer and autumn. What might be likely to cause this and do you think they have much chance of survival?

Those of us who have spent a lot of time on the hill will most likely have come across tiny calves late in the year, at a time when you would expect them to be well grown and prepared for the coming winter.

While nearly all breeding hinds will be mated during the rut, some that have avoided the attention of the stag or have not attained sufficient body condition will go on to cycle into oestrus at a much later date.

Though most of the mature stags will be ‘run’ and no longer in mating mode by then, some younger animals excluded from the autumn party will still be around looking for the opportunity to pass on their genes.

It’s these missed females that will go on to have a late pregnancy and calve long after the expected window when most calves are born.

I suspect that often the survival chances and future life prospects of these late calves are poor. A combination of hard weather and limited food resources mean their ability to thrive is not high.

Like a lot of animals, if they get through the winter, they are — in the words of my old stalking mentor —

“no likely to hear the first cuckoo”. IW

Tiny calves out on the hills in late summer and autumn are usually a result of a late pregnancy