Post by hoperefuge on Mar 4, 2015 18:01:09 GMT -5
This story just really warrants telling. I've never seen her be this goofy at calving before.
So, yesterday morning I went out & was pretty sure Bo was in early labor, so I kept her penned in & was checking on her in between going about other chores. By 11 or so she was starting to get more serious about it, but I had to go back in the house for a bit. On my way back out, DH was coming in to say she had two feet out. Yay, and out I go...can never see too many calves born.
I checked on her, then went on in to my milking parlor to putz around at some stuff. Several minutes later I poked my head out the door, and she's standing there with two front legs & a head out...and the eyes are blinking at me. (Odd feeling for some reason ) Well, then she does a pretzel contortion to try to reach around to the calf, and she actually managed to lick it's ear few good swipes. Goofy cow.
She got herself rearranged, and lay back down again for a couple more good pushes. Body was out, but from the hips back was still in, when she starting getting up again. I was thinking the legs would just slip out. Wrong! The calf goes up with her & is hanging by the hips...well actually I could see hipbones, so it was probably the stifles stuck on her pelvis in that position. So I quickly go into the stall & grab hold of the slippery front legs, thinking I'll just give a little support for if/when the calf falls. Just like that BoPeep SPUN around...fast...ripped the legs right out of my hands, the calf went slinging around, then literally FLEW right out & landed with a THUMP in the corner of the stall.
I was thinking, OMG, you've killed it! But baby was snorting & trying to move a bit...thank goodness. Talk about a rude awakening!! "Oh, my little darling"...WHAM..."welcome to the world!"
She seems no worse for the wear at least, though she is a fairly mellow girl. Yes, it's a heifer. Here she is this afternoon.
Kim
So, yesterday morning I went out & was pretty sure Bo was in early labor, so I kept her penned in & was checking on her in between going about other chores. By 11 or so she was starting to get more serious about it, but I had to go back in the house for a bit. On my way back out, DH was coming in to say she had two feet out. Yay, and out I go...can never see too many calves born.
I checked on her, then went on in to my milking parlor to putz around at some stuff. Several minutes later I poked my head out the door, and she's standing there with two front legs & a head out...and the eyes are blinking at me. (Odd feeling for some reason ) Well, then she does a pretzel contortion to try to reach around to the calf, and she actually managed to lick it's ear few good swipes. Goofy cow.
She got herself rearranged, and lay back down again for a couple more good pushes. Body was out, but from the hips back was still in, when she starting getting up again. I was thinking the legs would just slip out. Wrong! The calf goes up with her & is hanging by the hips...well actually I could see hipbones, so it was probably the stifles stuck on her pelvis in that position. So I quickly go into the stall & grab hold of the slippery front legs, thinking I'll just give a little support for if/when the calf falls. Just like that BoPeep SPUN around...fast...ripped the legs right out of my hands, the calf went slinging around, then literally FLEW right out & landed with a THUMP in the corner of the stall.
I was thinking, OMG, you've killed it! But baby was snorting & trying to move a bit...thank goodness. Talk about a rude awakening!! "Oh, my little darling"...WHAM..."welcome to the world!"
She seems no worse for the wear at least, though she is a fairly mellow girl. Yes, it's a heifer. Here she is this afternoon.
Kim