Hi,
I'm sorry that I've hardly been on here in recent times. I seem to be so busy, but when I think where my day has gone I really can't figure it out!
Our Charolais calved on Monday, in THE most inconvenient spot on the whole property (think island surrounded by waist deep water). Although we weren't there at calving, we believe the calf was still born. We have no idea why it would'v been, but there is no evidence that he got up from where he was birthed, and no evidence that she had a traumatic calving in any way.
So, on with the practicalities. DH went and picked up a two day old bull calf from the local dairy farm. A strong healthy Friesian x Jersey (sire). We ran the Charolais up into the cattle race, blocked her in and fed her, and then directed the calf to nurse from behind her. At first she really threw some huge kicks, which would've really killed the little guy if they had connected. Fortunately, all she did was catch her leg up in our extremely well built race, and there wasn't a chance she was going to break out of that! So anyway, he fed. I got up early the Tuesday morning and did it again before I went off to work, and then again in the afternoon.
Last night, I did put the skin of her dead calf onto the new calf. It was heartbreaking to watch. She went ballistic over the calf, and kept licking him the whole time, but not allowing him to feed (you know how they keep going in circles). Somehow she could smell her calf, but new that this wasn't her calf as well. I think if we'd got it done a bit sooner then she may have been fooled, but I when she finally licked it off the calf, I didn't bother tying it back on. I think its will just be better to see if she gets used to him nursing from her of her own accord, and if she doesn't, then twice a day in the shoot for the next 8 to 12 weeks isn't that onerous. Also, if it does proove to be a headache, I might try to foster him onto one of our other cows in milk, who are a bit more used to being handled.
It was also lamb slaughtering day yesterday, with our mobile butcher coming over to do the deed. Honestly, for $30 a head, for him to slaughter, butcher, and bring back in nice cuts in a styrofoam box, its not worth our while trying to learn and do it ourselves.
Anyway, so tired now. Life is hectic at the moment!
H