NICU?

The craziness continues, and I said last night that the barn was starting to look like neonatal ICU while M was feeding one calf and I was feeding another.  First there was baby Bolt with the broken leg who actually can get around on his own pretty well. Then the deformed calf died so we bought a twin from a neighbor for that cow.  She was a bit uncertain at first so M and R took some hide from her dead calf and duct taped it on the new calf.  The cow immediately showed interest in it then.  It only took one time in the head gate to let it suck and she is now very attentive and protective.  Our third successful adoption!

A couple of days ago we had a heifer calving in the corral.  R had a tough time getting her in a pen, and we could see on the cow cam that something wasn't right as soon as the calf was born. R ran out right away to clear the airway and make sure it was breathing.  It apparently aspirated some fluid because it was gurgly.  It still hasn't gotten up, and we've tried to feed it multiple times with limited success.  It has enough energy to fight us a little bit and beller.  It tries to get up but hasn't yet so M had to get the cow in and milk it.

Yesterday just before dark M was doing some disking by the calving pasture and saw a cow with feet in the air, never a good sign.  He called R who ran out to check and discovered the cow was still alive and trying to have a calf.  It had somehow gotten onto its back and couldn't get back over.  R pulled the calf, with much difficulty since it was huge, and got the cow back over but let it rest.  The calf went to the barn and got a bottle.  R checked on the cow through the night, but it wasn't getting up.  M fed close to it this morning, and eventually it got up to eat and he was able to get it to the barn so mother and son are now reunited.  She'd better rest up because that big boy can eat!

Today M was again disking and saw two cows fighting over a new calf.  He wasn't able to convince the one to leave it alone (by beating it off) so had to get R and a 4-wheeler.  They got  one cow to a pen where she gave birth shortly thereafter.  It's funny how they'll try to claim a calf when they are getting close to calving themselves-- how can they not know they still have one inside?!?!

The calf was down in the bog and getting played out so R took the sled out to get it and its real mother.  It's cold and windy today so they'll be glad for a little more shelter.

My first heifer calved this morning so I was keeping a close eye on it through labor.  M gave it a little assistance while I was gone to warm up a bottle.  He said it would be easier for me after I went through 80 heifers ( only 20 to go).  He was wrong!

J started putting seed in ground yesterday so it's about to get busier around here.  I keep wondering if he's a bit miffed that M has been MIA in that department since he's been so busy with cows.  I'm afraid to ask.  Just thank God every day that R is back to help us.