Post by Mitra on Feb 26, 2012 11:35:11 GMT -5
Last Tuesday our hoof trimmer came to trim Nellie's hooves. He wasn't able to come last Fall and I figured it was just as well because she was AI'd in September and I worry that the stress of the hoof trimming will cause an abortion (I have no stats on this but I worry anyway). She is now 5.5 months bred.
When Dave does come, he drives his truck with the contraption right up to the barn door and I can lead the cow directly into the chute. At this time of the year, even though we've had half our usual snow, there's is no way to drive to the barn so Nellie had to be led from the barnyard to the driveway, approximately 100 yards.
DH Max led her from the barnyard. She was relatively cooperative but she doesn't lead very well. He just held her collar and pulled until she relented and trotted down the path with him jogging along beside her. They came to a halt in the driveway where she had to wait for Dave to lower the chute.
Once the chute was lowered, Max had to swing her around to the entrance and get her to go in. He went in first and pulled her through. He stepped out of the other end.
Here is a short video of Nellie being lifted. Click on the picture to view the video.
While she was in that position, we noticed that there was a cut, about two inches in length, right in the middle of her udder. We would never have known it was there. It was a straight slice, maybe even something she did to herself with those long hooves. We cleaned it and put ointment on it while she was up in the air.
Max was trying to soothe her.
Then it was over and she pranced back to the barnyard on her new twinkle toes.
Good thing Dave came on Tuesday because this is what it looked like three days later.
When Dave does come, he drives his truck with the contraption right up to the barn door and I can lead the cow directly into the chute. At this time of the year, even though we've had half our usual snow, there's is no way to drive to the barn so Nellie had to be led from the barnyard to the driveway, approximately 100 yards.
DH Max led her from the barnyard. She was relatively cooperative but she doesn't lead very well. He just held her collar and pulled until she relented and trotted down the path with him jogging along beside her. They came to a halt in the driveway where she had to wait for Dave to lower the chute.
Once the chute was lowered, Max had to swing her around to the entrance and get her to go in. He went in first and pulled her through. He stepped out of the other end.
Here is a short video of Nellie being lifted. Click on the picture to view the video.
While she was in that position, we noticed that there was a cut, about two inches in length, right in the middle of her udder. We would never have known it was there. It was a straight slice, maybe even something she did to herself with those long hooves. We cleaned it and put ointment on it while she was up in the air.
Max was trying to soothe her.
Then it was over and she pranced back to the barnyard on her new twinkle toes.
Good thing Dave came on Tuesday because this is what it looked like three days later.