Post by lakeportfarms on Mar 23, 2015 18:06:56 GMT
Well, last evening was a bit eventful...we had a heifer due to calve, and at the end of the day Sheril came to tell me she was in fact starting. Since we're there, now we're obligated to stick around and make sure everything goes smoothly.
Good thing too...the labor was a bit longer than we like to see, and I was telling Sheril that we'll give her 20 more minutes and we'll go in and check, and I'll call the vet. Not long after that the bubble appeared, followed by a hoof, followed by a nose right behind it.
Either we had a three legged calf, or the other front leg was tucked...hmmm....so Sheril cleaned up and since her hands are much smaller
started to check for another leg. It was indeed folded back. So she pushed the calf back in a bit, cupped the hoof, and managed to get the leg around where it was supposed to be. It wasn't really too hard for her to do this, but the heifer was complaining a lot! Anyway, once the hoof was in the right spot we pulled and out he popped. We wanted to hurry the process in case his cord had been pinched by the leg when it was folded back.
It was a tiny thing, we thought heifer at first, but it's a short legged bull calf. He weighed 25 lbs. and good thing he was so small and such short legs, or the heifer (and we) may have had a much harder time getting him out in good shape.
He's doing well and the heifer is very attentive to his needs so we're quite happy everything turned out well. I will get some photos later on and edit the post with them.
'
Good thing too...the labor was a bit longer than we like to see, and I was telling Sheril that we'll give her 20 more minutes and we'll go in and check, and I'll call the vet. Not long after that the bubble appeared, followed by a hoof, followed by a nose right behind it.
Either we had a three legged calf, or the other front leg was tucked...hmmm....so Sheril cleaned up and since her hands are much smaller
started to check for another leg. It was indeed folded back. So she pushed the calf back in a bit, cupped the hoof, and managed to get the leg around where it was supposed to be. It wasn't really too hard for her to do this, but the heifer was complaining a lot! Anyway, once the hoof was in the right spot we pulled and out he popped. We wanted to hurry the process in case his cord had been pinched by the leg when it was folded back.It was a tiny thing, we thought heifer at first, but it's a short legged bull calf. He weighed 25 lbs. and good thing he was so small and such short legs, or the heifer (and we) may have had a much harder time getting him out in good shape.
He's doing well and the heifer is very attentive to his needs so we're quite happy everything turned out well. I will get some photos later on and edit the post with them.
'
