Another Surprise Birth!

I imagine myself passing out cigars to the dogs, for another calf has been born - another surprise calf. The surprise was that it was earlier than I'd calculated, just like the last one. The problem in both cases was that I'd thought the cows were not pregnant and had them artificially inseminated again. I was wrong both times:

The cattle were in the north field and I'd planned to move them back to the south field before they gave birth. But the minute I walked out the back door that morning and saw Gracie, all by herself and searching for a place to feel comfortable, I knew I was too late:

I tried to get Gracie to come to the gate and across the road but she was already in labor. So I moved the other cows across the road so Gracie could be alone:

I came back out to check on her every so often all through the day. It was hot and she had no shade, so I worried about her. But there was nothing I could do to help. So I just kept coming out, checking on her and speaking gently and encouragingly - though I think she was beyond hearing me:

This went on so long that I prepared to call the large animal vet. But before I called, I went out one more time and saw the baby trying to emerge. I could see two hooves inside the sack but couldn't make out a nose. Nonetheless, Gracie stood back up and the baby slipped back inside. I returned to the house to wait some more:

The next time I came out to check, I discovered that I was too late. Gracie had just given birth to a rather large heifer calf and was cleaning her off:

The poor little thing hadn't even stood up yet but kept trying:

Here's a video of one of the new baby's first attempts to get on her feet:


Gracie's udder was so low to the ground that I feared the baby would have trouble finding a teat. I needn't have worried. She was nursing within minutes:

Gracie was a good mother, nuzzling her calf and protecting her:

I carried out some grain for mama and she ate about half of it. Later, I moved the other cattle back over so they could retain their herd connections and, I hoped, help lead Gracie and her calf back across the road to the south field in a couple of days:

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