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Success, and Not

Posted on March 19, 2023March 19, 2023

Thanks for all the well wishes for the little calf yesterday. Despite almost our entire family’s hands on care, she didn’t make it. It’s tough to find them in the morning after trying so very hard to help.

Fortunately, though, two others we had helped *did* make it, so that was good.

With the cows now calving close to my house, we’ve set up a system. Vernon will check them first thing, driving the side by side around, looking for newborns. He will write down their numbers on the date and whether they’re a bull or a heifer. Their umbilical cord will be sprayed with Navelguard, meant to dry it up fast, preventing any germs to enter through the umbilicus. The cows then will be fed. After lunch, I join the crew, doing the same either by myself or with Vernon. Of course, we’re always on the lookout for trouble, those starting to calve, or those needing their brand spanking new eartags.

Yesterday morning, I found trouble. Calves are supposed to be born front feet first followed quickly by the nose. While I could see two hooves protruding, I could tell it was the bottom of the two hooves. That meant a backwards birth so I quickly recruited help.

We trailed her to the barn where she could be restrained in a chute so we could help pull the calf quickly into the world. While some cows can have backwards calves on their own, the danger is if it’s not a quick delivery, a calf may inhale amniotic fluid and not air.
Once in the pen, we put chains around the calf’s legs. Ropes tend to slide off with the slimy fluid so chains are used. Daniel readied the big calf puller just in case human strength was not enough to get the calf out.

Notice how you see the entire bottom of the hooves. That means it’s upside down and therefore the back hooves coming first.

No mechanical puller was needed, just some human help, and with a big push/pull combination, the calf was on the ground. A tickle of his nose to clear the mucus and he breathed! Yay!

Setting him up with his hooves beneath him made it easier for him to breathe.
Today he was perky and happy. It’s great to get those successes!

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3 thoughts on “Success, and Not”

  1. Joanne says:
    March 25, 2023 at 10:54 AM

    So pleased this little one arrived safely.

    Reply
  2. Marilyn says:
    March 20, 2023 at 12:50 PM

    So sorry about the calf.

    Reply
  3. Joan Wood says:
    March 20, 2023 at 11:59 AM

    Life has its ups and downs. Hurrah for the upside downer.

    Reply

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Carol, Wyoming rancher

Since 2008, I’ve kept this photographic journal of life on our working Wyoming ranch.  I share ranch work, my family, crafts and DIY, my English Shepherds, Bravo and Indy, and a love for this land.  Enjoy this red dirt country!

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