MARGRET IS CALVING!!!

[daniel.carver]

Hey All!!
I need some help, i've read alot & I think I'm fine. BUT I'm not sure. I have been watching Blondie & Margret for a week now, They both started calving around 9 pm tonight. Blondie had hers ok, but know it's 12:33 am and Margret still has not calved yet. I seen the bag & it was not broken. I've ck on her every 30 min. the last ck was at 12:15 am and there was no bag sticking out, then suddenly there it was again, then gone. Is this ok. I've read that you have around 3 min when they start (yes i'm frantic), but the bag is not broken yet, so are we ok? Some body please be up? :?:

 

[hillsdown]

Three hours plus, I would glove up and go in just to be sure.

 

[daniel.carver]

Thanks for the reply Hillsdown, She has been in the same spot all night, & know I can't find her, darn it. I've driven all over the place with the spot light, she must be in a holler. I'll go again in a while, i've got tuesday & wendesday off (work). I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again Dan

 

[alisonb]

My guess is she didn' fancy all the attention and took off....I hope you were greeted by a new healthy addition this morning,let us know.

 

[plumber_greg]

Get up! I agree with Mo_Cows, this place is like a soap opera. Needing an update on Margaret. gs

 

[alisonb]

:lol: :lol: :lol: plummer greg-all you need do is read some of your posts/threads to realise you are also part of the 'soap opera'.You know, when you point a finger so many point back at you.Lighten up man, life is too short to wake up sooo grouchy :roll: .

 

[Angus Cowman]

:lol: :lol: :lol: plummer greg-all you need do is read some of your posts/threads to realise you are also part of the 'soap opera'.You know, when you point a finger so many point back at you.Lighten up man, life is too short to wake up sooo grouchy :roll: .

He's not grouchy he is just full of anticipation wanting to know what happened!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[alisonb]

Seems i'm the grouchy one and the fingers are pointing to me :oops: :oops: .
My apologies plummer greg :D .Now can we have an update please!

 

[plumber_greg]

alisonb, I PMed you back. I truly wanted to know about Margaret. I know how exciting it is to others. I am still that way on every cow I own. Have a set of twins, or the first calf out of a new bull, find one in a snow bank and make it live and I'm pumped all day. The soap opera crack wasn't meant to insult. gs

 

[Dixieangus]

i hate it when this happens i get all excited wanting to know what happens and then no update

 

[daniel.carver]

Hey All :(
I'm sorry I have not gotten back to ya, I was up untill 5am, I finally found her & it was bitter cold & windy. I tried every thing that I could think of to get this calf out alive. It was backwards & it felt really big, I had her up in the field w/a rope tied to the legs pulling down ward. I just did'nt have the muscle, & I was afraid to use a chain w/the truck. So I started calling vets & of course got recordings. I finally got one out here at 2 p.m. He pulled the dead calf. Beautiful solid black heiffer. The calf was as big as my lab. I'm guessing 80 lbs.When you get as emotionally attached to your cows it really hurts. Lesson learned, I have a new puller in my truck I bought in at the feed store. I will have to modify a bit to make it as stout as the one the Dr. J had.
This is the first calf that I have lost, there will proabably be more, but not if I can help it. Thanks to all Dan.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that, especially since Im waiting for my first calving.
Im sure you did what you could

 

[Dixieangus]

so sad when we wait and then that happens hopefully that wont happen to me did the cow survive

 

[daniel.carver]

Yes, Margret seems to be fine. Thanks for asking.

 

[novaman]

At 80 pounds thats a pretty normal sized calf. The backwards ones are always tough to get out alive. Usually they drown before you can get them out. You win some, you lose some. We all try our hardest but some things just aren't meant to be. Good luck with future calvings.

 

[dun]

Sucks. But no matter how long you are at it it will alwasy bother you when you lose a calf. You can second guess yourself and what you did but someimes it just turns out badly no matter what you do.

 

[hillsdown]

You did all you could, you asked for help and now you know for the next time . I would recheck your mineral program one more time and god's speed.

Sorry for your loss may the rest of your babies be born easily, and in warm weather.

 

[KNERSIE]

When pulling backwards calves its better not to pull down like you'd do in normal presentations. (I know this from making the very same mistake which also resulted in having a vet out to pull a very easy pull backwards, but dead, calf a few years ago). What was also interesting is how he tied the calf. He used a loop above the hocks with a double hitch just below the hocks (not sure my explanation makes sense), but according to the vet it creates a lifting action helping prevent the ribcage to get caught in the pelvic opening.

 

[alisonb]

Thats 'nasty' news-i'm sorry for your loss.Glad Margret is OK though-did the vet give har any meds??

 

[Lotu]

When pulling backwards calves its better not to pull down like you'd do in normal presentations. (I know this from making the very same mistake which also resulted in having a vet out to pull a very easy pull backwards, but dead, calf a few years ago). What was also interesting is how he tied the calf. He used a loop above the hocks with a double hitch just below the hocks (not sure my explanation makes sense), but according to the vet it creates a lifting action helping prevent the ribcage to get caught in the pelvic opening.

Does anyone have a picture of where and how to tie a calf to pull. also where and how to tie if they are coming from differnt directions. Just wanting to see how you guys do it just incase.