> You're very welcome. If you ever
> have to pull a calf from any cow
> and the calf is not coming
> backwards, make sure you pull WITH
> the cow's contractions. Most women
> understand this concept.
> Our Murray Greys have never minded
> having us around when they're
> calving. Actually, one year I
> "stole" colostrum from 5
> different cows and first calf
> heifers. While the baby was
> nursing on one side, I milked some
> colostrum out from the other side.
> We often have young children over
> to watch the cows calve. They sit
> on the fence panel outside and
> watch the birth through the door.
> I only do this with our older cows
> who are used to the entire
> process. And, I do ask the kids to
> be very quiet and still. It's fun
> to watch the kids watch the
> birthing process, and to hear
> their comments.
> I have never had a Murray Grey
> heifer present any difficulty
> delivering the shoulders. Once the
> head is delivered, the babies just
> squirt out. Other ranchers in our
> area who have used Murray Grey
> bulls on their first calf heifers
> always comment on the easy
> birthing.
> Friends calve about 50 heifers
> each year. One year they pulled
> all of their calves. These calves
> were out of several different
> bulls. The next year they used a
> Murray Grey bull on their heifers
> and had 49 delivered without
> assistance. The one that had to be
> assisted came backwards.
> Their comment after ear tagging
> the calves? "Them suckers
> WANT to live!" They were
> laughing because all their lives
> they had held the calf between
> their knees to ear tag it. They
> had a heck of a time hanging onto
> the Murray Grey cross calves, due
> to the small head and sloping
> shoulders.
> I've never had a Murray Grey
> heifer or cow reject a baby, no
> matter whether we were involved in
> the birth or not. They are very
> maternal animals. The bonding I
> referred to for first calf heifers
> was because these very maternal
> cows sometimes go overboard.
> I have to tell you a story, and I
> hope I can describe it well
> enough. Our oldest cow is a very
> good mother. Her heifer was
> calving for the first time and we
> kept the heifer and calf together
> for a day or two, then put them in
> with the herd. The heifer was a
> good momma, too. Well this was
> feeding time, and the older cows
> immediately started butting and
> pushing the heifer around. The
> grandma cow immediately blocked
> the others and made them back off.
> The first calf heifer went over to
> a corner of the pasture with her
> calf and stood with her head
> hanging down, looking totally
> dejected. For the first and only
> time, I saw the grandma cow
> actually leave her food-she does
> love to eat. She went over to her
> daughter and started licking the
> first calf heifer's face and
> talking to her in low tones. In a
> few minutes the first calf heifer
> was visibly cheered up.
Linda, great story about a wonderful breed!
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