Over the Gate

NZPOME · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 2323 Location: New Zealand

And a dun one at that too!

Just after tea break at work, 10.40am, I had a phone call from OH saying the neighbour had called him. She told him Isobel had gone into labour. So he rings me and I ran out the door, I think I managed to tell somebody I was leaving![:I]

She was in the paddocks and making big circles around where her waters had broke. I went up to her gave her a scratch and shifted the other two girls into the next paddock. For a while she seemed happy to stay where she was, then it started to rain so I went and got my coat, When I came back she had shifted to a different spot. I stood by armed with the camera as I knew I wouldn't be forgiven if I missed anything[:p]

She was restless and making low moaning sounds and was up and down, fluids still draining when she contracted. At this point my neighbour wandered over (the one who rang) and she had a look during one of the contractions and said that she could see two feet, so that was encouraging.

Soon we began to see the feet emerge, tiny little white hooves, and soft to the touch...it was a hands on birth![;)] Isobel so was so good and almost looked liked she was happy we were there, she kept looking at me with those big eyes as if to say, 'What is happening to me' and she would lean against me.

With each contraction more seemed to emerge, I could see the sack of fluid alongside the feet.

Then after a while I saw a nostril. By this time my friend turned up with lunch, after a quick look she disappeared inside with the neighbour just as it started to pelt down with rain, my neighbour came back out with a coat for me, as I was getting rather wet by this time and cold. They returned with a toasted cheese and onion sandwich!

Isobel was still restless and was up and down and the feet were in and out![

] It was nearly 1pm by this point and poor Isobel was beginning to look quite tired. At this point my 2 resident midwifes thought that maybe a little intervention was needed to pull the head out as it didn't seem to be budging. So I was sent off to the barn to get some baling twine....I was thinking that it would be just my luck she'll plop it out before I get back! Isobel was making some quite loud mooing sounds by now....well you would wouldn't you?

All that noise attracted the attention of all things cattle in the neighbourhood!

The baling twine was looped around both feet, and my friend strategically placed to pull and my neighbour was stretching 'ISOBELS' vulva, I had camera aimed and ready to shoot and on the next contraction with a bit of a tug...a new life emerged into the world!

A quick lift of the leg revealed a heifer!

I cried![:I] Isobel bellowed! My neighbour pulled the calf in front of Isobel and the next few moments were amazing. Isobel stood up so fast and stood over her making such a racket! She started to lick her and we decided some more lunch in order and a hot cup of coffee while she bonded.

When I went back outside the calf was up and feeding. The miracle of life, truly amazing!

Two lessons learned today:
1) Don't feed the cows too much food while they are pregnant, you get BIG calves
2) How to use baling twine for a speedy delivery

Many thanks go to my friend and my neighbour for their help and support. I'm very lucky to have 2 experienced cow experts to hand!

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kaz · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:29 am Post subject:

What a brilliant post NZP (a bit graphic for breakfast time

).
I'm amazed that you had time to grab your camera.
Bodger will be sooooo jealous about a dun heifer calf, I'm glad everything went so well

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bodger · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:33 am Post subject:

I'm jealous of everything

Its a great feeling isn't it ? You,ve made a top post. Thanks for sharing

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Lloyd · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 3255 Location: bs36

A lovely post, NZP. Not for the weak stomached perhaps, but it's been a long time since I had the pleasure of assisting a cow birthing and very nice piccies. Hope you have an understanding boss, too!!

Ratman · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:13 am Post subject:

Terrific

It shows it as it really is, and that is rare on anywhere these days and isn't that what the countryway of life is all about ???
Good luck to mum and baby

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NZPOME · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 2323 Location: New Zealand

Thanks all for your good wishes!

Sorry I was so excited that I forgot you'd be eating your brekkie!

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Cabbagepatch · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 1058 Location: S. Glos

Lovely sequence of photos and well done isobel

Issy · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 660 Location: Somerset

What a fantastic account and pics

. Well done both of you and I love the last picture she looks so proud

.

NZPOME · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 2323 Location: New Zealand

She does doesn't she! I like that photo too!

I would love to get a sequence of photos like that of my goats, but so far they have been very camera shy! The little madams!
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nigelhughes7 · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:57 am Post subject:

Nice to see

My neighbours have moved down from london and their grandson asked us how many pigeons we had ? I had to explain they were chickens and even worse they were Shamos so god help us if kids today have no idea what animals look like .

green man · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject:

congratulations NZPOME pretty calf -happy mum, great post

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rhino · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 331 Location: The white peak

Good looking calf, great to see the pics too. She is a good size isn't she. Any way well done, it's lovely to watch calves galloping about.
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NZPOME · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 2323 Location: New Zealand

She's doing well, I like to watch her charge around the paddocks as the suns going down. Isobel's a great mum.

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