Playing Cow Doctor

On Feb. 16, I had planned my night to consist of eating in Brentford, visiting in town for a while, coming home and going to bed.  I guess during calving season, you can never plan your nights ahead! Logan and I got home that night about 11:00.  We came inside the house, I was getting ready for bed and Logan went into the other room to check the cameras.  He came into the room and said you might have to come out and help me in a little bit, as it looked like a heifer had been pushing for a while.  About 5 min later we were outside.  The leg of the calf was caught back and we had to get her into the other barn to pull the leg back and get the calf out.  --With me being un-farm girl material, I am pretty proud of this whole next part--

Once we got the heifer into the barn, we had a few complications getting her in the head gate, but eventually it happened.  Logan played doctor and tried to get the calfs leg the right way while my job was to hold the tail--pretty important! :)  In the meantime Roger (Logan's dad) was on his way down to help out.  Good thing because we needed his help! Once Roger got here, we got the leg back to where it was supposed to be and the next job was to pull the calf.  In the midst of Roger and Logan trying to pull the calf, I was still holding the tail--Roger even told me to keep holding the tail out of the way, so I must have been a pretty good tail holder!! :)  Time passed, the calf didn't come out, and the mom laid down on the ground.  This was it--time to go to the vet in Groton for an EMERGENCY C-SECTION! (Again, not what I had planned for the evening.)  We got into the pickup at about midnight and drove up to Groton.

Once we got to the vet, my tail holding duties were over.  The vet got the heifer prepared for the c-section and then began operating.  I started watching this process as I have never seen it done before.  Once the vet cut into her and I started to see the lining and blood squirting everywhere, I found myself to become light headed.  I backed away and looked at the floor until the operation was over.  Logan had told me later that he was glad that I did that because he did not want me passed out on the vets floor. (Obviously!)

This heifer had delivered a 125 lb calf!! HOLY COW--FOR REAL!! The Dr. stitched the mom all up and put her and the calf back into the trailer and we were on our way back home at 1 AM.  On the ride home, Logan kept commenting that he wished he had a sled for the calf so he wouldn't have to carry it all the way to the barn.  Me, being the farm girl in training, asked if he had a tarp.  That way we could put the calf on the tarp and drag it to the barn.  Oooo good idea farm girl Megan!!  

So we got home, I went to get the tarp while Logan backed the trailer up to the ally way.  I brought the tarp to the trailer and lookie there--there were handles on the tarp for easy dragging!!  We put the calf on the tarp and started dragging her to the barn.  We got halfway down the ally way and I suggested to Logan that he go get the mom and I will finish dragging the calf into the barn--ok.  So I continue to drag the calf and Logan just stands behind me.  I turn to him and say uhh what are you doing? The mom is up in front of me.  He says well you have to get the calf in the barn first. Ok, so I keep dragging.  I go a little farther and the mom is staring me down.  I stop and am about ready to jump the fence or run away.  The mom starts running towards me and then turns and goes by Logan.  (I just about DIED there!)  So I finish dragging the calf allllll the way to the back of the barn.  (At this point I am out of breath--thats a BIG calf!!) Logan then gets the mom in with the calf, we pen them in and shut the barn down for the night.  And FINALLY at 2 AM I can go to bed!!

Here is the mama we played doctor on and her calf. (I think there should be a PINK ear tag on this calf!!)

Farm Girl Tip # 6: When it is calving season, never plan to just come home and go to bed.  Always plan that you will have to go to the vet for a c-section!!