It's that time of year again: Calving Season. The cows are bred to have their calves at this time of year so that by the time the fall comes, the calves are the perfect size for the auction. For first year heifers (it is their first calf) a lot of them have a hard time calving, so sometimes the rancher has to "pull them".
Anyway, it is pretty exciting and I love being able to watch new life come into the world...no matter how dirty and gross it is. I remember the first calf I ever watched was at Valaine Palmer's place. It was cool then; it was cool when Hyrum and I went to watch tonight.
They had three calves born tonight. The first one was in the stall with his mom. The second one was half way out when we got there. The third one was inside it's mother--and his mother was a "high-headed" heifer (That means she's a mean cow. She'll chase you and try to hurt you if she's gets the chance. Scary, huh?)
Ev let me TRY to put the chains on the last calf...basically I had to reach up inside the cow and put the chains on feet. Yeah....maybe you'll think twice about shaking my hand...? (I did have gloves on.)
Heifer #2--In front of Ev's boots, you see the calf half way out.
Calf #2--Ev is putting it in the next stall for the mother to find.
Heifer/Calf #3: This was the wild one that I put chains on the feet. After I couldn't get them on very well and couldn't pull, I got my camera. Here Ev and Matt are pulling the calf out.
Calf #3- Ev is putting straw in the calf's nostrils to help it breathe. Hy and Steve (yes, Decca, it's Steve!!) were watching on the other side of the gate. You can't see it very well, but Hy has a "preg checking" glove on his arm.
What a night! I'm glad Ev doesn't put me in a stall and hook the chains on to my baby...
Heifer #2--In front of Ev's boots, you see the calf half way out.Calf #2--Ev is putting it in the next stall for the mother to find.Heifer/Calf #3: This was the wild one that I put chains on the feet. After I couldn't get them on very well and couldn't pull, I got my camera. Here Ev and Matt are pulling the calf out.Calf #3- Ev is putting straw in the calf's nostrils to help it breathe. Hy and Steve (yes, Decca, it's Steve!!) were watching on the other side of the gate. You can't see it very well, but Hy has a "preg checking" glove on his arm.What a night! I'm glad Ev doesn't put me in a stall and hook the chains on to my baby...
7 comments:
Ew. Cool for you guys though.
Fun. I wish I was there, mainly because Steve was there and I like being with him. But, I'll be on the ranch all this summer!
I agree with Janelle.
Just makes you want to give birth, don't it?? just kidding.
That's awesome. I'm so glad I don't have to give birth standing up though.
Way to go!
So, I love that I get more comments on this gross, disgusting blog than on my other posts--made me laugh ;) Maybe I should type "Viewer discretion advised" on more posts....
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