We've known Maureen and Barbara, who run a farm near us, for over 40 years. Maureen is recovering from a broken shoulder (boisterous cattle!) so they needed some extra help to deliver a calf this afternoon.
It takes a lot of effort to pull the calf out during the final stages of birth .....
.... especially when mum lays down.
The new arrival .....
... carried in a big plastic bag to a deep bed of straw in its own stall
It's a bull! They've promised to call it Phil ...
Mum looking very calm after the birth (she has done this before!)
Drying the calf with a towel ....
... then a first drink of milk ....
Here are a couple of older half-brothers, about 10 days old
A memorable afternoon
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When they go down you have to intervene but why don't they leave it with its mum? She would lick it clean. eat the afterbirth and feed it on the high cholesterol milk that I can't stand it is called beastings for a reason.
ReplyDeleteI love new births, even the awkward ones that involve rooting around up animals fannies for legs and getting a bit of rope on them. It is like trying to feel with a tourniquet wrapped round ones upper arm. Sheep are easy, cattle middling but horses are by far the hardest. Lovely to see the pictures.
Ps Pigs are worse they drop five when before they have dropped six or seven so one is never sure if there is another still inside and pigs don't like being tampered with. Mummy pigs get a bit naughty and bite. Cameron was wise to tackle a dead one.
Congratulations! I have been a silent, wonderstruck spectator to similar events .We let the calf be with the mother here, so the mother licks him clean and feeds him.
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