Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
As most of you know, I am pretty diligent with my cattle. We bring our pregnant cows up front into a field outside my house windows - within 2 weeks of due date - and any that look at all close also come up front. We put any cow that "appears' ready into the calving pens at night and kick them out in the morning. We have cameras in the barn on all the pens and also a camera on the lot outside with night vision.
Well, we had an old experienced cow 9 days late (her normal). Been putting her in at night for maybe 4 nights. Put her in last night, finished chores and went in the house. Phil & I cooked and ate supper. Ugh - during that 1+ hour, she went into labor, spit out the calf in about 10 minutes of pushing. Calf alive and kicking, but - sac was over face all the way down covering legs. Mom jumped right up, vigorously licked calf. Worked on head, but sac did not come off. Calf kicked and flipped itself over, sac did not come off. After about 10 minutes, the cow got the sac off. Calf struggled about 10 minutes more, then died. Must have inhaled too much embryonic fluid.
Ugh Ugh - in 5 minutes we could have saved this calf. When I watch the playback, it made me sick.
And kicker is - it was a red, white faced HEIFER. This is a "can't keep on the place" offspring worth a lot of money. I am sick.
You can't watch them 24/7, although I try.
Well, we had an old experienced cow 9 days late (her normal). Been putting her in at night for maybe 4 nights. Put her in last night, finished chores and went in the house. Phil & I cooked and ate supper. Ugh - during that 1+ hour, she went into labor, spit out the calf in about 10 minutes of pushing. Calf alive and kicking, but - sac was over face all the way down covering legs. Mom jumped right up, vigorously licked calf. Worked on head, but sac did not come off. Calf kicked and flipped itself over, sac did not come off. After about 10 minutes, the cow got the sac off. Calf struggled about 10 minutes more, then died. Must have inhaled too much embryonic fluid.
Ugh Ugh - in 5 minutes we could have saved this calf. When I watch the playback, it made me sick.
And kicker is - it was a red, white faced HEIFER. This is a "can't keep on the place" offspring worth a lot of money. I am sick.
You can't watch them 24/7, although I try.