Calving season

[cowboy]

It's calving season again, and here are a few pics for you city folks.

It starts with them kicking at their bellies, followed by a water bag showing. Then, before too long, feet will start to show:



Then she keeps pushing, and we watch to make sure things are okay. It takes around 10 minutes from that point to get the whole critter out if things go smoothly.



She'll stand up right away and start cleaning him off with her tongue. This is important, especially in the cold, because it keeps them from cooling off too much and stimulates them to get up and nurse.



Within 30 minutes, he's up and nursing, ready to start packing on the muscle for next year's steak.

[Indy Coug]

That's a mighty fine calf you have there.

[FN Phat]

That brings back memories. Thank you, cowboy. One quick question. Is there any truth to the idea that licking the after birth also helps give the cow protein supplements that aid in milk delivery and quality?

[cowboy]

That brings back memories. Thank you, cowboy. One quick question. Is there any truth to the idea that licking the after birth also helps give the cow protein supplements that aid in milk delivery and quality?

Not that I'm aware of. They lick that little bugger like they're trying to get to the tootsie roll center though, so it's obviously some sort of craving, just like eating their afterbirth.

[Eddie]

When I was in high school there was this gal I was friends with who had a little bit of land, with horses and cattle. One Saturday a friend and I went riding over at her place. We came upon this cow that had just given birth.

The calf looked to be either stillborn or had died just after birth and the cow was trying to get up but was really struggling. It looked like something out of a horror movie with that cow dragging itself along the ground trying to get up and yet anchored to the spot by the calf's ambilical chord that was somehow wrapped around a stump.

We took off and brought her Dad back to the spot. Not sure what happened after that with that poor cow.

[il Padrino Ute]

Cowboy, my 7 year old daughter was looking at these photos with me and is now demanding that I take her to your place so she can play with the cute calf.

If I don't, she'll continue to hound me, so I ask, what's your address?

[PaloAltoCougar]

That's very interesting for several reasons, including the fact that cows and, I believe, horses, stand up and start walking within minutes after birth. What the hell is wrong with our kids? A year, and sometimes substantially longer, before they start walking around. Especially during these troubled times, they need to start pulling their weight. I hope all the parents of recent newborns are on this.

[Lost Student]

Cowboy, my 7 year old daughter was looking at these photos with me and is now demanding that I take her to your place so she can play with the cute calf.

If I don't, she'll continue to hound me, so I ask, what's your address?

Don't let her get too attached.

Within 30 minutes, he's up and nursing, ready to start packing on the muscle for next year's steak.

[cowboy]

Cowboy, my 7 year old daughter was looking at these photos with me and is now demanding that I take her to your place so she can play with the cute calf.

If I don't, she'll continue to hound me, so I ask, what's your address?

216.867.530.965

[il Padrino Ute]

216.867.530.965

I know right where that is. Need me to get anything on the way over? Chips? Gallon of milk? Box of manila envelopes?

[cowboy]

I know right where that is. Need me to get anything on the way over? Chips? Gallon of milk? Box of manila envelopes?

Garlic salt.

[il Padrino Ute]

Garlic salt.

Done. See you when I get there.

[hostile]

Great pics.

My BIL is just finishing a ranch management masters degree in Texas. He has taken a job managing a ranch in Cody so hopefully next year at this time we'll have the kids up to help out.

[Tim]

When the calf comes out is it attached by an umbillical cord? I see the placenta in one of those pictures; what happens with it? Can you describe the process a bit more?

[landpoke]

216.867.530.965

I didn't realize you were that far north.