As calving season progresses, I’ve noticed an interesting herd social dynamic: Two or three cows that have their calves at the beginning of the season tend to hang together. Then, near the end of the season, about the same number of cows that haven’t calved seem to prefer the company of each other. Or, maybe they feel like outcasts because they are either late to calve or may not calve at all.
Recently, I noticed a cow by herself at the opposite end of the pasture from the rest of the herd. I asked Bill if we should check her out to see if she was in early stages of labor. His reply was, “No, that’s #21. She’s the only one left in that pasture that hasn’t calved so she’s hanging by herself. I checked her this morning and she’s nowhere near close to calving. In fact, I’m not sure she’s bred.”
Oh-oh! Bad news here. If she’s not bred, her days in the Hilbert Herd are numbered. She will be sold and is doomed to a destiny as hamburger. No wonder she’s off by herself—she feels like an outcast and probably knows her fate! Poor thing!
A few days later, Cricket and I were taking our evening walk when I saw a cow lying by the fence. This is a favorite labor and delivery site for our cows. She watched as we approached but didn’t get up. I checked her ear tag and discovered this was Cow #21. Then, she struggled to her feet and I saw a short stream of mucus hanging from her rear end, a possible sign she was entering the early stage of labor. I checked her udder, but she still wasn’t “bagging up.” Then I looked at the area around her tailhead, which should appear swollen or dilated. Maybe it was, but my visual examination was inconclusive.
Bill met Cricket and I on our way back from the pasture and I told him about Cow #21. He was doubtful, but agreed the mucus stream was a hopeful sign.
The next morning, Bill was all grins when he returned to the house from checking the pastures for new calves. “Good job, dear! #21 has a nice bull calf! Her udder ballooned overnight and she has plenty of milk!” Yea!
#21 dodged a date with hamburger destiny and I picked up some “good farm wife” points—double bonus!
Recently, I noticed a cow by herself at the opposite end of the pasture from the rest of the herd. I asked Bill if we should check her out to see if she was in early stages of labor. His reply was, “No, that’s #21. She’s the only one left in that pasture that hasn’t calved so she’s hanging by herself. I checked her this morning and she’s nowhere near close to calving. In fact, I’m not sure she’s bred.”
Oh-oh! Bad news here. If she’s not bred, her days in the Hilbert Herd are numbered. She will be sold and is doomed to a destiny as hamburger. No wonder she’s off by herself—she feels like an outcast and probably knows her fate! Poor thing!
A few days later, Cricket and I were taking our evening walk when I saw a cow lying by the fence. This is a favorite labor and delivery site for our cows. She watched as we approached but didn’t get up. I checked her ear tag and discovered this was Cow #21. Then, she struggled to her feet and I saw a short stream of mucus hanging from her rear end, a possible sign she was entering the early stage of labor. I checked her udder, but she still wasn’t “bagging up.” Then I looked at the area around her tailhead, which should appear swollen or dilated. Maybe it was, but my visual examination was inconclusive.
Bill met Cricket and I on our way back from the pasture and I told him about Cow #21. He was doubtful, but agreed the mucus stream was a hopeful sign.
The next morning, Bill was all grins when he returned to the house from checking the pastures for new calves. “Good job, dear! #21 has a nice bull calf! Her udder ballooned overnight and she has plenty of milk!” Yea!
#21 dodged a date with hamburger destiny and I picked up some “good farm wife” points—double bonus!
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