I watched a calf be born this morning!!
I was out riding Snip when I noticed a cow grazing amongst the other cattle (normally cows wander off by themselves to give birth). There was a sac of some sort hanging out of her valva and something else higher up. Upon closer inspection of the abnormal protrusion, I realized that it was a calf's foot! (I imagine the sac was part of the placenta.)
Before I got close enough to really determine that though, I whipped out my phone and called Daddy. He ended up getting a rough "play by play" of the birth--as well as "Stop that Snip!!" Snip kept chewing on the shaft of his bit and trying to walk off.
By the way, I'm listening to this as I write--definitely one of my most favorite films (and film scores) ever! I wish I could put the whole playlist up in one box...
I was out riding Snip when I noticed a cow grazing amongst the other cattle (normally cows wander off by themselves to give birth). There was a sac of some sort hanging out of her valva and something else higher up. Upon closer inspection of the abnormal protrusion, I realized that it was a calf's foot! (I imagine the sac was part of the placenta.)
Before I got close enough to really determine that though, I whipped out my phone and called Daddy. He ended up getting a rough "play by play" of the birth--as well as "Stop that Snip!!" Snip kept chewing on the shaft of his bit and trying to walk off.
By the way, I'm listening to this as I write--definitely one of my most favorite films (and film scores) ever! I wish I could put the whole playlist up in one box...
It took about 15 minutes for the cow to finish having her calf (a little black rascal; I don't know which sex yet). It got kind of funny watching her push as the head started to come out--each time she'd push the calf's lips would get pulled apart and the teeth would show. Then, when the head was all the way out, the calf blinked a little bit and shook his head a couple of times. By the time he was hanging out by his back hips, mammy was somewhat bug eyed and blowing. Daddy suggested that perhaps the placenta was seperating from the uterus walls and that was causing some discomfort. Other than that, she appeared to be perfectly fine the rest of the time.
The poor calf was hanging upside down for a pretty good while and was twitching around--it looked to me a couple of times like he was aiming for the teats but couldn't quite get to them. The other cows started crowding around and when the little thing finally went "plop!", they gathered around and sniffed him. The black bull was also around and at some point he went "bhaaahh"; almost like he was sympathizing with the cow.
When I left the cows to themselves, the calf was in the process of trying to sit up as mammy cleaned him up.
Just moments later, I found another new calf! This one had been in the world a bit longer as it was already dry, but because of the size, manner of laying down, and the way the mother stood over it, I knew it was new (as of today).
In other news, Snip behaved so-so today. He was worse than yesterday when it came to the trotting, but I got a lope out him four times!! He is definitely responding to the leg cues better and I only screwed up on that front myself a couple of times. It's still a concious effort for me to remember not to use the inside foot.
Once I finish my coffee I'll head off to work on the fence.
The poor calf was hanging upside down for a pretty good while and was twitching around--it looked to me a couple of times like he was aiming for the teats but couldn't quite get to them. The other cows started crowding around and when the little thing finally went "plop!", they gathered around and sniffed him. The black bull was also around and at some point he went "bhaaahh"; almost like he was sympathizing with the cow.
When I left the cows to themselves, the calf was in the process of trying to sit up as mammy cleaned him up.
Just moments later, I found another new calf! This one had been in the world a bit longer as it was already dry, but because of the size, manner of laying down, and the way the mother stood over it, I knew it was new (as of today).
In other news, Snip behaved so-so today. He was worse than yesterday when it came to the trotting, but I got a lope out him four times!! He is definitely responding to the leg cues better and I only screwed up on that front myself a couple of times. It's still a concious effort for me to remember not to use the inside foot.
Once I finish my coffee I'll head off to work on the fence.
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