Soapweed
Well-known member
About noon I spotted a cow that appeared to be calving, in a bunch a mile and a half from home. She didn't have a very tight udder, and I see why I didn't sort her out with the "heavies" last week. As today was the first time it warmed up to twenty degrees in several days, I assumed everything would turn out alright. Going back to check on her later this afternoon, I discovered she still had not calved, so it became necessary to get her in to check her out.
The cow had not dialated very much, and the calf was not in proper position. One of the front legs was above the head, and the other was coming correctly. As I was taking pictures and giving advice :wink: , Brock was the first one to don plastic gloves to enable him to check out the delivery. He still lacks experience in this department, so was soon stymied.
Peach Blossom came along, and this is right up her alley as she has papers to prove that she graduated as a Registered Nurse. The calf was tangled up enough that it was even hard for her to attach the chains. I even had to forego taking pictures and try my hand at the game. With a little rest, and the cow having dialated a bit more, Peach Blossom finally won. She attached the chains, and we used the mechanical puller to deliver the calf. It was sure dead, and probably had been for a few hours. At least we saved a vet bill, and the cow will be fine. Hopefully she will come to her milk so we can use her for another calf.
Here is the sequence of pictures documenting the procedure.
Subzero scene
Oh, what a tangled web we weave
Ears trouble. Just one more mile to go.
Keep a-chuggin'
Forward ever, backward never
Around the corner
Doing fine
Heading for the barn door
Moving in the right direction
Now if she would just turn completely around
Getting close
Secured for the operation
Going for the Gusto
Kosmo Kid suited up and diving in
Saddletramp holding the tail and keeping the cow from going down
Peach Blossom to the rescue
The Kid
Pens in the old barn
The cow had not dialated very much, and the calf was not in proper position. One of the front legs was above the head, and the other was coming correctly. As I was taking pictures and giving advice :wink: , Brock was the first one to don plastic gloves to enable him to check out the delivery. He still lacks experience in this department, so was soon stymied.
Peach Blossom came along, and this is right up her alley as she has papers to prove that she graduated as a Registered Nurse. The calf was tangled up enough that it was even hard for her to attach the chains. I even had to forego taking pictures and try my hand at the game. With a little rest, and the cow having dialated a bit more, Peach Blossom finally won. She attached the chains, and we used the mechanical puller to deliver the calf. It was sure dead, and probably had been for a few hours. At least we saved a vet bill, and the cow will be fine. Hopefully she will come to her milk so we can use her for another calf.
Here is the sequence of pictures documenting the procedure.
Subzero scene
Oh, what a tangled web we weave
Ears trouble. Just one more mile to go.
Keep a-chuggin'
Forward ever, backward never
Around the corner
Doing fine
Heading for the barn door
Moving in the right direction
Now if she would just turn completely around
Getting close
Secured for the operation
Going for the Gusto
Kosmo Kid suited up and diving in
Saddletramp holding the tail and keeping the cow from going down
Peach Blossom to the rescue
The Kid
Pens in the old barn