over Christmas break. I stayed pretty busy getting more experience with things I've done before, as well as learning new hands-on things... lots of stuff I've seen other people do a lot but never done myself. Anyway...
1) Cows in labor can squeeze pretty hard when you're trying to fix a malpresentation. LOL. Calf had one leg back... it was a first for me. Also, I learned my arms aren't long enough to get hold of the calf when the cow is laying down. Standing up was a just-barely (big dairy cow).
2) Running IVs on dehydrated calves is much harder than it looks... and much, much harder than my vet makes it look! He can get it in one try; I end up doing acupuncture. lol.
3) Along the same lines as #2... when you're holding the IV bag under the heat lamp to keep it warm while running the IV... it gets heavy really quickly. :lol2:
4) Air in the IV line will not kill a calf.
5) A 1600lb+ Holstein cow is a bit big for poor, short MM to preg check. There must be some tricks of the trade I have yet to learn.
6) The look on the face of the owner of a 2000-cow dairy, when he came to buy a springer and I led her out on a halter and walked her into his trailer like a horse... that expression was well worth the time spent training her. :lol: I suspect that was a first for him! (Granted, I had no choice but to halter break as my pens are snowed in and no one is getting in or out with a trailer. lol.)
7) Most nurse cows don't need more than a week to accept calves... mine is going on 3 weeks and still has an attitude. Apparently cows get their own ideas about life when they're left to themselves in the milking herd for a year. LOL.
8.) It's not a good idea to give calves pills without a balling gun, unless you're certain you have really tough fingers.
9) It is not recommended to carry a cell phone in ones' unclosed jacket pocket while riding high strung horses.
10) It is impossible to find a cell phone one has lost under the circumstances described in #9, especially if the ground is covered in snow. :?
And lastly...
11) I have the best vet and the best boss anywhere. :nod:
1) Cows in labor can squeeze pretty hard when you're trying to fix a malpresentation. LOL. Calf had one leg back... it was a first for me. Also, I learned my arms aren't long enough to get hold of the calf when the cow is laying down. Standing up was a just-barely (big dairy cow).
2) Running IVs on dehydrated calves is much harder than it looks... and much, much harder than my vet makes it look! He can get it in one try; I end up doing acupuncture. lol.
3) Along the same lines as #2... when you're holding the IV bag under the heat lamp to keep it warm while running the IV... it gets heavy really quickly. :lol2:
4) Air in the IV line will not kill a calf.
5) A 1600lb+ Holstein cow is a bit big for poor, short MM to preg check. There must be some tricks of the trade I have yet to learn.
6) The look on the face of the owner of a 2000-cow dairy, when he came to buy a springer and I led her out on a halter and walked her into his trailer like a horse... that expression was well worth the time spent training her. :lol:
I suspect that was a first for him! (Granted, I had no choice but to halter break as my pens are snowed in and no one is getting in or out with a trailer. lol.)7) Most nurse cows don't need more than a week to accept calves... mine is going on 3 weeks and still has an attitude. Apparently cows get their own ideas about life when they're left to themselves in the milking herd for a year. LOL.
8.) It's not a good idea to give calves pills without a balling gun, unless you're certain you have really tough fingers.
9) It is not recommended to carry a cell phone in ones' unclosed jacket pocket while riding high strung horses.
10) It is impossible to find a cell phone one has lost under the circumstances described in #9, especially if the ground is covered in snow. :?
And lastly...
11) I have the best vet and the best boss anywhere. :nod:
