Calving season causing some stress

Well, my cows caused me some stress earlier this week.
I noticed a cow was acting like she was going to calve around 4 p.m. on Sunday, so I went and put her in the barn (I wasn’t worried as it was her third calf).
She also was the cow that wasn’t feeling well last fall, so I was just pleased that she made it through whatever she had going on and was calving.
I left her for an hour, then looked on the camera and could see a water bag. All good. I decided to venture to the barn anyway because I’m still having issues with no Internet in the barn.
I know that sounds funny but Internet in the barn is such a valuable tool. When you can tune in the cameras on your iPhone or iPad, you can zoom right in on the action! I would have seen that the afterbirth was coming with the calf.
I quickly called my friend J, who rushed on over and we pulled a healthy heifer calf. All good.
So then I continued on with my evening. With the weather being milder, I check every three hours. But on my 1:45 a.m. check, I looked over my gate and my worst fear: a cow on her back! Ugh!
I was sure was she was dead but I walked over and she was still alive. I ran back, opened the gate, and ran to the tractor (I was crossing my fingers it would start since I don’t keep it plugged in full-time since I can’t afford the hydro).
It started so I rushed out to the cow. I was nervous about pushing her up with the John Deere tractor because the prongs are difficult. But I gave her a gentle push and she jumped right up (and I didn’t stab her with the prongs!)
So then who wants to go back to sleep after that (or should I say who can go back to sleep after that?)
Last week, I had a meeting at my house with an individual from a group that I’m working with. Of course, right about the time she was going to arrive, I had a cow calving.
I asked her to come to the barn because I was pretty sure I was going to have to give the cow a hand (it was a big calf and her first calf). I put the chains on the big feet and started to pull. Ugh-it wasn’t pulling great.
I knew it was tight from inspection but thought it was do-able. I called for back-up. Meanwhile, the cow then hunkered down and started to give some good pushes, and I joined in with some pulling and we got him (nice big bull calf).
I took a breath and called and stopped my back-up plan. I then pulled the calf around to the front of the cow and the cow completely lost it. She jumped up bellowing and pushed the calf around the entire pen.
Thankfully, she wasn’t hurting him but it was strange and what an experience for my friend!
As soon as the cow stopped the calf’s ride around in the straw, she immediately started to lick him and in 20 minutes he already was up sucking.
So hopefully these events are behind me as it looks like I have a busy week ahead of me.
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Just a quick reminder about the grain marketing workshop being held next Tuesday (Feb. 21) at 10 a.m. at the Emo Inn.
Let me know if you are planning to attend (everyone is welcome but I just need to a number for lunch).
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Something very exciting–we are planning an “Ag Day” for Saturday, April 1. It will feature a slate of great speakers and a small trade show.
Stay tuned for details!