It's been a long, tiring week. Six calves born since a week ago Thursday and three of them with issues! I hate calving in March; too wet and too warm. Much better in January and February when the cold keeps disease at bay.
The three Angus cows were all due to calve on St. Patrick's Day. One calved a week early, one calved on the correct day and one has yet to go. Artificial insemination is still not an exact science. The calf born early just hasn't done well. She was born on a cold wet night but had warm sun that morning and should be fine. She won't nurse the cow and the cow wants to kill anyone who comes near her calf. Fortunately her owner is a veterinarian. We herded the cow and the calf into the barn where, with the help of some sturdy metal gates the vet is able to get the calf separated from the cow and bottle fed.
I suspected that my wonderful cow Violet was carrying twins. I've been watching her closely for a week keeping her near the barn in case she had trouble. She calved Tuesday evening about 7:30; a nice sized heifer calf (female) and I moved her to the barn since it was going to rain. The calf's hind feet were curled up and she couldn't stand on her hind feet right away so I made them comfortable safe in the knowledge that Violet is a good mother and would have the calf up and nursing by morning. At 10:00 pm I left the barn headed to bed. Next morning at 7:00 am I went out to feed Violet and the Angus cow and there were two calves with Violet! She had twins after all. The second calf is a bull and his front legs wouldn't hold him up. Obviously they were too squished up inside the cow and their little leg tendons were not stretching out.
The vet helped me splint and wrap the bulls front legs and he is able to get up and nurse. The heifer's back feet, finally this morning, have straighted and she is standing and nursing, so - keeping finger's crossed - it looks like they will be OK.
In the meantime, Sarah, the neighbor's Shorthorn cow that I'm boarding, had a super little Limi/Shorthorn cross heifer calf with great markings. She should make a beautiful show heifer. She's getting along just great.
One of the rodeo girls had a bull calf out of a good bucking bull. It had to be rescued from a gully where it had fallen, but its fine and doing well. And the Angus calf that calved on time for St. Patrick's Day is doing great and enjoying the sunshine.
There are five more calves to come and the weather people say rain starting Sunday through Wednesday. Hopefully the cows will wait until the end of the week as I am out of space in the barn! Baby pictures will follow soon, but before I can take time for that I have to help get a huge tree off the fence!!! Ah farm life. It is never dull and I'm always getting plenty of exercise. No need to waste money on a gym!
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