10/09/2024
So the past few weeks have been hectic. July 20th, my new heifer Tawny decided her first calf would be breech. Step in Adam and some others to assist me with his arrival. Welcoming Serenity Vaughan.
Sunday, September 8th, my Neive decides to deliver while I'm at work. Her labour turns into a partial paralysis where she's lost control over her back legs. Step in Adam to assist the delivery. As she can't stand up its a stressful delivery, on all counts. On my return from work I can see my girl who can't stand or feed and a calf that needs the initial colostrum and eventual feeding. Thanks to Trish from Billabong Dexters for her support and advice to a panicky me. Buying a cow ni**le to fit a water bottle on a Sunday afternoon and advising me I needed to milk a cow and feed the calf. Also ensuring that they bond.
Neive delivered at the top of a slope. Every time she tried to get up set of a slide, roll and a compromising position that affected her health. Over a tonne of bovine that was put in predicaments when she rolled. She lacerated a teat, let me milk her when a teat was open to milking while she was on her side, let me push her calf onto a teat that was so close to the ground but he got what he needed. All hours of the night.
Wecome Serenity Vivienne. Viv for short. I so wanted a girl but this spelling is male and Irish. Bring on "The Young Ones "...
Over the past 2 days, we've fed a calf, moved a cow into a safe position, ensured she had feed and water, dealt with new and uncontrolled situations to be rewarded with both her and the calf being well. This afternoon I returned from work to find that Neive had got up with her calf by her side, and was grazing with Tawny and her calf.
Possibly 10 kilo of pressure came off me. All my girls and their boys are where they should be.
Serenity Dexters not as serene..lol