Something weird is going on

Calving is happening fast an furious this year. Two fatalities so far but six sets of twins to make up the losses and then some. In the first two weeks of calving we've had 75 % of our cows freshen. For those of you with COW knowledge will know that's pretty damned good.  For those of you who aren't, we'll, it's like your general contractor saying it will be another three months to finish building your dream home but he finishes in two, WOOOHOOOO !!!

The only flies in the ointment are the problem births, an 8 year old cow, who, as a first time mom years ago gave birth to a still born, she licked her baby and mooed at it but it never got up to suck. Every year she calves a healthy calf, licks it, mooes at it, but kicks it if it tries to nurse. Every year we have to hobble her so that she can not lift her foot to hurt the calf, this year she accepted the nursing in record time and is hobble Free after only 7 days. Yay 59R, you go girl !
Another old cow has had twins for the very first time but only wants the first calf born,the other calf might as well be afterbirth for all the attention she pays it. Robert has had to wage psychological
Warfare on her. Our biggest worry was the 130 lb. calf born to another 8 yr old cow, the biggest calf she's ever had. Our average birth weight is 97 lb. so he did a bit too much growing. In fact he got so big that he couldn't move in the cows uterus. For quite sometime we think, given how bent and stiff his legs are. He's weak and can't straighten his legs out enough to stand so we bottle feed him and give physio therapy, bending his joints and stretching them out straight. He doesn't like it, but we got him straddling a square bale of straw and he liked that. His morale got a big boost once he was able to sort of stand. Now, I am happy to announce he can get to his feet with his own effort and is nursing from his mommy. Thankfully she is a very quiet and gentle soul, we think she knows we are only trying to help, I love it when these things have happy endings for us all. I cry for days when we can't save them and I have to shoot one.

The weather here this week has turned nice which gives us a breather and a chance to catch up on bedding and sorting. Other than that, I have been working on a new painting sporadically and doing Rbts laundry, it's a messy time of year.