**Warning: This post contains graphic photos of a cow labor/delivery. Please read at your own discretion.**
After 2 missed due dates, numerous trips to the barn, more pictures (for comparison) of cow butt than a dairy journal, and multiple anxiety attacks a day, we have finally attained the rank of,
DAIRY COW OWNERS!
Our little heifer, Waltzing Matilda Mook, or Tilly-mook to her friends, became a mama on Friday. The day started out like any other. The Mister and I were sipping on our first cup of coffee when he saw a flash of gray bolt across the field. The chickens & turkeys were scratching around, seemingly undisturbed by the predator lurking in the tall grass. But he wasn't there for them.
That bold coyote was there for Tilly. He may have been wily enough to get close to her, but he was no match for the 7mm.
After losing a calf to a cougar a couple of years ago, we weren't going to take any chances. And that coyote was up to no good. In the broad daylight. In our field. Not 20 feet from our chickens. Whom he had no interest in. At all.
We got Tilly up in the barn and quickly rearranged the cattle panels into a circular corral. We then checked her progress.
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| Everything was soft and squishy. And gushy. Really, really gushy. |
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| Tilly's teets were leaking heavily at this point. Later, the milk was coming out in a constant stream. |
Tilly alternated between walking and laying for over an hour. Then her water broke.
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| Hooves! |
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| The Waiting Room~Somebody really should have popped popcorn. |
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| Front hooves, but no nose. |
After seeing the hooves disappear back up inside Tilly, we knew she was in trouble.
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| Too slippery! |
Some quick thinking, paper towels, and a well-placed back against the stanchions,
my hero Mister was able to finish what Tilly had started.
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| Tilly knew exactly what to do. |
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| I think she may win Mother of the Year. |
Welcome to the world Maggie Moo.
I think she's going to fit in real well, don't you?☺
Thank you so much for sharing this story and for all those great pictures. Maggy Moo is adorable, Tilly is a great Mama and way to go to the hubby. I am so glad you got that coyote before he hurt your babies. We are hoping to move to a bigger place next year and someday get our own dairy cow.
ReplyDeleteYay!! She's beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your baby girl!She is so pretty.Hope mommy and baby are doing good.And old coyote didn't have a chance did he?Serves him right!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie!
ReplyDeletecongradulations
ReplyDeleteYou had me cheering for Tilly AND your mister! Hooray!!! How wonderful - a lovely little heifer calf. And thank goodness you got to that coyote before he got to your little Maggie Moo. What a lovely gift!
ReplyDeleteIt's a GIRL!! Congrats to you guys and Tilly on the arrival of little Maggie Moo, she's a cutie!
ReplyDeleteGlad ya'll got that nasty coyote, they usually ARE up to no good...
Congratulations on your beautiful little Maggie Moo heifer! I wonder if that coyote could smell or sense that Matilda was going into labor? So glad you were on top of the situation. Otherwise, it would have had a tragic end. I don't think there was anything else you could have done in the situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm certain that ol' coyote could smell/sense Tilly's labor. We could hear the pack yipping and howling in the woods. I'm very grateful that my hubby's eyesight is much better than mine!
ReplyDeleteYea!!!!!!! So glad for you guys!!! Also glad you killed the coyote.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate what you post. You have a new subscriber now.
ReplyDelete