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maryjane
7072 Posts
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 Posted - Nov 06 2015 : 4:05:13 PM
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Fanci is in the first stage of parturition. Her uterine contractions are minor but they are allowing her pelvic ligaments to relax. I haven't seen a string come from her vagina yet. Sometimes she puts her head down and rests, sometimes she stands up. Pretty much, she's fidgety and uncomfortable. She's not all that interested in food at this point. The next stage with be seeing some actual contractions that present against the cervix.
In this photo you can see her udder owie (udder dermatitis) I've been curing slowly but surely (more on that in another category).
And here's the scene in the waiting room on the other side of the gate.
This is what is called "plank-sided." In other words, the size of her sides has diminished because the calf is now in the birth canal. Fanci was VERY wide yesterday.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Nov 06 2015 : 5:44:00 PM
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| This is soooooo exciting. Thank you MaryJane for posting Fanci's delivery. I love the scene from the waiting room. Keep us posted. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Nov 07 2015 : 02:11:28 AM
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| Awwww...what a wonderful sight....beautiful cow...calf yet? |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Nov 07 2015 : 12:14:28 PM
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| LOVE the photos. this will really help us newbie's out when our time comes. or i should say our cow's time comes! |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Nov 07 2015 : 3:12:42 PM
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Great photos and descriptions describing the stages! Thank you. I especially liked the photo of the waiting room scene!
I bet today has been busy and I'm hoping all is going well for Fanci, you and Nick. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 10:06:17 AM
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10:34 pm Nov 8, 2015, 282 days gestation, Finnegan born to Fanci (and Samson).
Along with momma licking and me using towels, we had him dry in no time. He isn't a humongous calf, given how big Fanci is. Apparently, he has Samson's size genetics and not hers.
Not very much white on him. Again, Samson's genetics because Fanci has a fair amount of white on her.
Speaking of size, I have a black medium coat ready for the bulls born here but Finnegan required the smaller pink size.
I was with Fanci from 10:15 to 3 a.m. when I popped in to get warm and grab a bite to eat. I went back down until 4:30 and have not seen her pass her afterbirth. There is a chance she passed (and ate) it during the first 20 minute or the two-hour interval this morning when she was alone. However, given she is still acting uncomfortable and trying to push and I'm still seeing a strand discharge repeating itself, I think she's hanging onto her placenta. There's no reason to be concerned until 12 hours passes but that's coming up. I talked with my vet who confirmed that the most important thing is to keep everything very clean because bacteria likes to climb up these cords and create uterine infections similar to umbilical cord infections. Plan B if we don't see a placenta soon is an exam using a gloved hand/arm.
Here's the most recent strand.
Within two hours after birth, Finnegan had nursed vigorously on all four teats, a first for me. They usually play favorites and nurse on only one or two. By the time he was three hours old, he was practicing his sideways hop.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 10:15:08 AM
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| Congratulations MaryJane. It's just wonderful. Fanci looks attentive to her little one. What a handsome little calf. I hope all works out with the afterbirth. I waited for Sienna's too, but I came in the house a couple of times so I didn't see her pass it, but what was hanging was gone so I figured she passed it and ate it before I got to it. They are quick on that. So like you said she may have passed and ate it already. So happy her delivery has come and baby bull calf is doing so well. Nursing on all four teats has to be some kind of record. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 10:23:58 AM
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| It's great to have such a vigorous nursing calf. No colostrum worries at all. I swear he drank gallons. I could see and hear him guzzling it down. Even when she moved he didn't let go. I'm getting ready to bring Fanci in to milk. Maybe that will help her produce even more of the oxytocin that helps the uterus contract enough to pass the placenta. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 10:33:26 AM
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| Yes, thankful when they get that colostrum early on. Nice when you don't have to bottle it (colostrum) to them. Hopefully the milking will help the contractions and there will be no worries. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Andrea0509
155 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 12:20:12 PM
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| I've enjoyed following your updates on Fanci the last few days. Thanks for keeping us posted! Finnegan is so very cute! |
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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 4:03:09 PM
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| Oh! He is adorable! I'm sorry I missed it! I was at a church retreat in Bemidji this weekend. But, great pictures, keep us posted! |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 4:26:29 PM
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| mary jane he is absolutely adorable! congrats, and fanci just seems like the perfect momma. what a treat to let her bond with her first ever calf to keep. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 5:50:45 PM
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Here's one of those "I swear it's true" stories. In fact, Nick can verify.
I asked Nick if he could help me get started milking Fanci because I wasn't sure she'd let me lead her away from Finnegan, requiring calf to go into calf cart that would have to be pulled through the mud to the parlor. "Sure," he said, "1:00 works best for me."
As we approach Fanci's birthing area, she's laying down, head up, watching us come. Finnegan is nearby, curled up and sleeping. I greet her as we open the gate and walk in. I tell her it's time to get milked, a moment I've waited more than a year for and hoped she feels the same way.
Fanci tucked her head into her side (remember she's laying down). So I'm standing there trying to decide what to do when Nick said to her, "I'm not buying it, your eyes aren't even closed." That's when she closed them tight like a little kid would when they're faking sleep. Her eyelids were flipping around like crazy and she had her eyes squeezed shut. And that's when we hit one of those parenting you're-spoiling-the-children-no-I'm-not moments. Nick took the halter, bent down, and proceeded to put it on her while he said, "This may not be a good time for you, but it's a good time for me." She didn't budge her head as he strapped it on. I had to point out that it was in front of her inside ear. We got that fixed, I hooked a lead rope to her and then I said, "Fanci, I love you, really, I'll do this later. Besides, I'm exhausted also so I'm going to go curl up on my couch and we can both get some much needed rest. No biggy."
I took the lead rope off, left her halter on, and we walked away. Once she heard the chain to the gate latch, she lifted her head to watch us leave. I hid behind the building to see if she tucked her head back, eyes shut again. She didn't.
Wonderful communication moment for me. Sure do love her. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 6:13:27 PM
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| I should add that milking around 4ish today went very well. She let me lead her away from Finnegan without objection. She has plenty of edema and not much milk, just the last of some colostrum. Finnegan is quite the eater!!!! Her teat orifices are awesome. Can you tell I'm pretty excited to get into a routine with Fanci? |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Nov 09 2015 : 6:26:32 PM
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| That is so cute. Fanci playing opossum. So happy you were able to lead her away and get her milked. It all sounds so easy but it's so intense for such a period of time that it just drains a person. Especially when you stayed up all night. So, I hope things keep going as well as they are and you can get some much needed sleep. Each day gets easier, or it does here. Get ready for the upcoming milk. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Nov 10 2015 : 04:12:22 AM
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| What a wonderful cow you have there Mary Jane....I guess I just gave a thing for the big cows...more to love! |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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Mike
1667 Posts
Mike
Argyle
WI
United States of America
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Posted - Nov 10 2015 : 06:33:08 AM
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Maryjane,
You should have been a writer for "Green Acres"! Can you imagine them filming that skit!! And with her accent;} |
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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Nov 10 2015 : 07:34:18 AM
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| Oh Fanci! What a silly cow, sounds like AppleButter. |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 09:05:32 AM
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| Sometimes it's just easier to wait until they are ready. :) They let you know. |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 11:50:01 AM
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| Update: Night checks for Eliza Belle are becoming increasingly difficult:) Fanci gave me three gallons this morning but her udder still looks like it will pop even though I am completely draining it. Edema (she's an older cow). No temperature so far. I stopped by to check on everyone a few minutes ago and Fanci was laying in the sun in fresh clean straw (cleaned it this morning), baby was nearby in his pink coat sound asleep, and two chickens were in between them sprawled out in the sun also. I thought, "this is why we do what we do." It's the little things. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 09:37:06 AM
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| MaryJane, it is the little things! Yesterday, we were going to hay the horses, and all four of them(That's not all, there's only four in this one pen) were lined up by the fence, staring at us and waiting for hay, they all looked so cute together! |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Fanci's Delivery
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