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New calf at Kelley's Dairy

    I had been watching a heifer for several days as she was late calving so I was expecting troubles and was sure the calf would be a bull.  It seems heifers come early or on due date but but when it approaches ten days overdue you can be positive it will be a bull..  Wife was mowing youngest son's yard while they were on vacation and it was 95 degrees or so and I decided to walk out among the heifers and check on them.  I found this.  See photo below.


    I thought "This isn't good. Now what do I do?"  I started slowly easing her to the house about 1/4 mile but she didn' want to go.  Like I said my wife was mowing so I could not call her so I called "Skeezix" to come and help me get her to the house and in a small lot.
    We worked together despite her trying to go back to the pasture and her friends and finally got her in the pen.  The feet had gone back inside so I left her and sat in the shade a bit to see if she would lay back down and begin again.  She finally found a place to lay down that was to her liking and in the shade.  I continued watching for a bit and after she had the feet back out I saw also that the nose was coming and everything seemed fine.  It was hot and I didnt want her to be working too long in such extreme heat so I decided to assist.  Grabbed the OB chains and the handle and tied on and helped when she strained I pulled and held and in a few minutes we again experienced the miracle of live birth.  I cleared the mouth and nose of mucas and pulled the calf into the shade.  The heifer got up and began licking her calf.  All was great and still is with her and the calf.  The photo below was taken a few minutes after birth.


Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink July 23, 2010


Brown Swiss Heifers



    These Brown Swiss heifers are just being turned out on pasture after the hay was harvested and the grass was allowed to grow back a bit. It is easy to see that they started grazing as soon as they came through the gate. I am sitting here watching them from my dining room table two hours later and they seem to be enjoying themselves. I like having cows or heifers in this particular pasture because I can observe them from the house.
Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink July 6, 2010


Assisting a Brown Swiss Heifer with Calving



    My Granddaughter, "Flo", assisted me with this difficult birth by taking photos. At one point I had her between me and the heifer looking up as we made progress. Got some real good photos that way, don't you think?
Cheerily
 IJK

Comments (0) Permalink June 11, 2010


"Flossie" Helping With Evening Chores


Cheerily
 IJK

Comments (0) Permalink May 30, 2010


May 20, 2010

    I was up and out the door early because it was Thursday.  The rain was coming down gently but steady.  I had kept a cow up Wednesday evening because I had expected her to deliver her calf before morning.  I checked her as I headed into the field and rain but she had not calved yet.  I was soaked and a little chilled by the time I had the cows up.  I milked and when daylight came I ran out to check the cow but no luck yet but I saw a foot starting to peek out so I thought it won't be long now.  I went ahead and fed the calves and cleaned the barn.  Went back to check the cow but no progress and I had things to get done so I roped her and tied her up and washed good and got some clean warm soapy water and reached inside. Lo and Behold I found a another set of feet but these were hind feet and upside down so I knew I had twins coming.  I reached for the head of the calve that was presented right but could not find it.  I tried to push the backwards calf back down some and tried to find the head again, but no luck once more.  I called the veterinary clinic that I have dealt with for 20+ years but did not get an answer.  It was only 7 a.m.  I left a message and was called right back, after explaining my issue the vet on duty said "Can you bring her in?" I hung up but he was persistent and called back and once again he asked "Can you bring her in?"  I said no and if he couldn't come out I was finished with that clinic.  (My wife said I used some dirty words too). I hung up again.  I looked in the phone book for another veterinary that I have known but had never used and called them.  They said  "Sure, be right out".  The vet lives about 30 miles away and arrived in about 35 minutes and got to work. She gave the cow a local so she wouldnt fight and pushed the backwards calf back down some and was able to get the head of the other turned and started.  She placed the OB chains on the calf and I helped her pull.  We were successful in delivering a big live bull calf and the vet quickly took the chains off the first and got back inside the cow after the second.  Because it was coming backwards we attached the calf pullers because it is really important to get backwards calves out fast before they try to draw a breath.  Success was ours once more and another big live bull calf was brought into the world.  I released the cow and the cow began cleaning the calves.  I paid the vet and discussed regular herd health check-ups and needless to say I now have a new vet and she has a new client.  Sad to have to quit someone after so many years and I feel bad about it, but I have to have a vet who will come when needed.  the photo below was taken this evening of the two calves.  I named them Nip and Tuck.  Nip is on the left and is the first born.
Both calves are for sale and someone wanting to make a team of oxen would be very happy with the pair.  Yes, they are for sale.

Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink May 21, 2010


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