Cow needed inducing

It looks as though we are going to have a nice week of weather.
I am hoping the current forecast of rain for Saturday is wrong, but I’m certain things will change by then.
It will be a great week to take down my Christmas lights. But from the stuff that I have gathered up already, most of the extension cords likely will have to stay until spring now since they’re under about four feet of snow.
The yard will be dark again—and I’m sure Hydro One will be disappointed.

I had been noticing a younger cow that was as big as a house and told a few people I was concerned about her. For some reason, something sometimes catches your eye and gives you that feeling of “I don’t think things are right.”
On Friday she still seemed normal as I fed the cows but Saturday when I walked up, she was away from the herd lying in the deep snow.
Two abnormal things: cows stick together and they don’t normally lay in the deepest snow. So we brought her home.
My vet cousin was here this past weekend so I asked her check her out. It turn out she has Hydrops (Google it). It isn’t good but, of course, there is nothing you can do about that.
She isn’t due to calve until Feb. 1 but the risk is that she will go down and not get back up, so we decided to induce her. Now we will wait for 24-72 hours and hope that the calf and the extra fluid comes out.
It’s not likely I’m going to be able to keep the cow, but I’d rather get her healthy and feeling better than take her to the bush.
We seem to experience something new every year in this business–good and bad.

I have to share a cute story from the Florida trip.
One night, Marlee went out for supper with her aunt, uncle, and cousins from Dryden. They decided on burgers.
After Marlee finished her burger, she got a sick look on her face. So Auntie Dor asked what was up? “Well,” Marlee explained, “I am only supposed to eat Canadian beef!”
Auntie Dor explained that is hard to source Canadian beef in the United States.
It’s just amazing how much kids listen and pick things up even when you don’t know they are.

I’m hoping all my farmer friends are planning to attend the annual meeting of the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association this Thursday (Jan. 19) at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.
We will hear updates from our commodity groups and share some of the changes for the cattle sales this year. As well, Gary Sliworsky will have a few updates from OMAFRA while Barry Potter always has an exciting topic.
Jason Reid of Thunder Bay will give the Beef Farmers of Ontario update.
It is always a great meeting and we enjoy hearing the opinions of our members.