Posted by in-too-deep on March 31, 2016 at 09:57:07 from (208.123.22.114):
Having a rough start to calving season and spring in general. Not trying to complain, but I know you guys understand and my wife is in the same boat as me, so I came to vent. Dang first calf heifers just can't seem to figure it out. First one we had needed to be pulled, no big deal. Thing is, Mrs. In-too-deep in 8.25 months pregnant, so my fiend and neighbor helped her while I was 5 hours away hauling grain to the Twin Cities. That went fine, but the cow had no interest in the calf. They got them both put in the barn, and when I got home I was able to get the calf up to suck, and he did fine. The lightbulbs came on, and she claimed him and they're fine now. Next morning, another heifer calved at about 3am. Momma wanted him but his neck tendons were tight and he couldn't get up to eat. Tried to get her in the barn at 5am in the rain to no avail, so I went to work hauling to the cities again. Neighbor and wife got them in the barn. Neighbor is up in age and has a sore back so he couldn't tie the cow up to train the calf. By the time I got home, it had been 15 hours since birth. His neck was fine, but has NO interest in nursing. I put a teat in his mouth and he just stands there with a dumb look on his face. Just won't do it. Infuriating. Milked a pint out of the cow and tube fed him. Milked another pint late last night and tubed him. Only got a few ounces out of her this morning and he still won't suckle. Looks like he's going to be a bottle baby cause cow is going to dry up with no stimulation from the calf suckling. That dumb little calf would rather starve to death than do what he is meant to do. It was just too much time after birth for him to have the instinct. If I had been there I would've tied her up and got him to nurse. My wonderful wife can do ALL of this on her own if she could. She was raised with beef cattle and can handle ANYTHING. It's just too dangerous and difficult for her being so pregnant. She still gets up at 3 or 4 am to check the cows for more calving and does her best. We also have a 2.5 year old daughter who does her level best to be patient while mom and dad try to take care of the cows.
Between calving in the mud, difficult heifers, toddler, working full time+ on a farm for a man who seems decreasingly interested in his actual farm work, lack of sleep, spring field work JUST around the corner with very little equipment ready, and a left elbow that hurts like heck when I work it too much... guess I'm feeling spread a little too thin. Turning 29 years old tomorrow and feeling way behind.
I know there's LOTS of people who handle this kinda stuff and more without issue, and generations before me had a much more difficult time than I, just felt the need to vent. Call me a whiner if you want, but I'm sure a lot of you fine folks know how I feel.
Ok, I've sat here long enough, and even though it felt good to sit, I need to get back and keep chipping away at it. Thank you for listening.
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