Post by twistedwillow on Jun 7, 2014 1:46:10 GMT -5
I am not complaining. Really, I'm not.
Two nights ago Leah (Due June 19th) wasn't acting "normal". So I checked on her throughout the night. Decided that she wasn't going to make it to her due date. Checked on her yesterday- and KNEW she wasn't going to make it. I had a dreadful feeling today that this was going to be the day.... Last year she was due June 15th, and calved on the last day of school. Today is the last day of school. I am SO tired. This would be a terrible time for Leah to calve. The barn isn't finished yet- and I am too tired to deal with calving.
I checked her today. I KNEW that this was the day. I hoped I was wrong.
I haven't been wrong yet.
We came home from the Last Day of School Carnival- utterly exhausted..... and SHE was standing there nursing!
(Did I mention that I was REALLY hoping for a bull calf??- I know, there might be something wrong with me.)
Isn't she cute?!?!? I only ever get a heifer if it half Angus.... Every pure bred dairy calf has been a bull. :/
She is a very pretty, slightly brindled, mulberry-ish color, with white patches underneath. SO pretty. But, Buttercup (Leah's calf from last year) was the same color- She is now jet-black, so I know this girl will end up black as well.
She still needs a name.
I usually wait till about 12 hours later to milk. But that would have put it in the middle of the night- and I needed to relieve some pressure before dark. She didn't let me milk her out- She held some up- but I got nearly 4 gallons of perfect colostrum! No sign of mastitis yet- hopefully it stays that way.
Leah is pretty fat right now. She looks great. She has ONLY been on grass for the last few months. I have to give her grain to milk her (since we are milking in the garage still, and it's the only way to keep her still) I gave her a tube of Cal-C-Fresh. But I think I only got about half of it down her. I am actually really not worried about Milk Fever though- she has never had any issues- but I am usually more on top of their nutrition before calving. And, now that I say that, I am thinking that maybe I should check on her tonight... if I can find her in the pasture. Did I mention that I am exhausted?
She calved in the pasture, in the hot sun. She then went up and drank quite a bit from the tank. She refuses to drink molasses water. She passed the placenta just fine- and it looked and smelled normal. She always seems to calve surrounded by the rest of the herd. It's like she prefers it that way. They were all pretty interested, and pretty protective of the baby. It's really cute.
Hopefully Jemimah waits until HER due date- June 30. I need a little breathing room... and sleep.
Two nights ago Leah (Due June 19th) wasn't acting "normal". So I checked on her throughout the night. Decided that she wasn't going to make it to her due date. Checked on her yesterday- and KNEW she wasn't going to make it. I had a dreadful feeling today that this was going to be the day.... Last year she was due June 15th, and calved on the last day of school. Today is the last day of school. I am SO tired. This would be a terrible time for Leah to calve. The barn isn't finished yet- and I am too tired to deal with calving.
I checked her today. I KNEW that this was the day. I hoped I was wrong.
I haven't been wrong yet.
We came home from the Last Day of School Carnival- utterly exhausted..... and SHE was standing there nursing!
(Did I mention that I was REALLY hoping for a bull calf??- I know, there might be something wrong with me.)
Isn't she cute?!?!? I only ever get a heifer if it half Angus.... Every pure bred dairy calf has been a bull. :/
She is a very pretty, slightly brindled, mulberry-ish color, with white patches underneath. SO pretty. But, Buttercup (Leah's calf from last year) was the same color- She is now jet-black, so I know this girl will end up black as well.
She still needs a name.
I usually wait till about 12 hours later to milk. But that would have put it in the middle of the night- and I needed to relieve some pressure before dark. She didn't let me milk her out- She held some up- but I got nearly 4 gallons of perfect colostrum! No sign of mastitis yet- hopefully it stays that way.
Leah is pretty fat right now. She looks great. She has ONLY been on grass for the last few months. I have to give her grain to milk her (since we are milking in the garage still, and it's the only way to keep her still) I gave her a tube of Cal-C-Fresh. But I think I only got about half of it down her. I am actually really not worried about Milk Fever though- she has never had any issues- but I am usually more on top of their nutrition before calving. And, now that I say that, I am thinking that maybe I should check on her tonight... if I can find her in the pasture. Did I mention that I am exhausted?
She calved in the pasture, in the hot sun. She then went up and drank quite a bit from the tank. She refuses to drink molasses water. She passed the placenta just fine- and it looked and smelled normal. She always seems to calve surrounded by the rest of the herd. It's like she prefers it that way. They were all pretty interested, and pretty protective of the baby. It's really cute.
Hopefully Jemimah waits until HER due date- June 30. I need a little breathing room... and sleep.