tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post33379856157712290..comments2024-02-16T12:47:28.039-07:00Comments on Apple Jack Creek: Sasha's calf arrived!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-3902094445452136892009-04-19T20:30:00.000-07:002009-04-19T20:30:00.000-07:00Oh yes, Wind n Wooly, we are hugely relieved! With...Oh yes, Wind n Wooly, we are hugely relieved! With a cow, you get one shot - no calf, and that's it for a year. So it's a great relief to have him on the ground and nursing well ... he's improved lots now that the engorgement has passed for his poor mama.<br /><br />We're calling him Ewen MacDeepFreeze - as an Irish Dexter, we figured he should get some kind of Celtic name. And since his destiny is known ... his clan is obvious!<br /><br />Not done lambing yet ... Still waiting on the escape artist, who is hollering and demanding room service and NOT lambing. Turkey.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08892085037131749502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-33500491492705942642009-04-18T12:41:00.000-07:002009-04-18T12:41:00.000-07:00Well isn't that lovely. I'm sure you're all relie...Well isn't that lovely. I'm sure you're all relieved that Sasha has had her calf and you've got one less to worry about. Lovely calf...too bad not a heifer but maybe you want another "Sir Loin" as I often call our butcher steer.<br />Are you done lambing also?Wind 'n' Woollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02723040103379736143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-38437384222322917322009-04-18T09:13:00.000-07:002009-04-18T09:13:00.000-07:00Yes, the first milk is called colostrum ... it's ...Yes, the first milk is called colostrum ... it's still 'milk', but this is the stuff high in antibodies and fat, the essential nutrients for a new baby bovine. Without it, calves don't get the antibodies they need and they can die very easily.<br /><br />It's a very tricky balancing act in the early days - you have to make sure the calf gets as much as he can drink, but if the cow is really full, she can get mastitis if the pressure isn't relieved - or she can be so uncomfortable that she'll kick the calf off so he can't nurse, which will just make matters worse. So, the humans in the picture can help out by easing the pressure, but you have to be sure that the calf gets plenty to drink ... especially in those first few days. I believe I saw the recommended quantity listed as "half a gallon to a gallon within the first day" - if the calf won't nurse directly, you need to milk the mama and bottle feed the calf, basically, you do whatever it takes to make sure he gets it.<br /><br />Luckily for us, Sasha's calf was up and nursing within 3 hours of birth, and we have watched him getting regular drinks from his mama. She's still pretty full so we are helping her be comfortable by easing off the pressure on the quarters that the calf hasn't been drinking from ... with luck, he'll start doing the 'work your way around all four' thing very soon and then mama Sasha will be much more comfortable!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08892085037131749502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-63862070813182754152009-04-17T08:03:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:03:00.000-07:00isn't that colostrum, not milk?
Always great whe...isn't that colostrum, not milk? <br /><br />Always great when things go well with both mum and baby! Hope you get ots of milk and happy times with the new cow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-15608416568769284472009-04-16T02:42:00.000-07:002009-04-16T02:42:00.000-07:00Way to go, Sasha! I'm sure she is very relieve...Way to go, Sasha! I'm sure she is very relieved to finally have that over with - poor thing. And with all these new arrivals, I'll bet your peaceful little farm is buzzing with critters who are glad it is spring!<br /><br />D&NNathan G Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973860546015177962noreply@blogger.com