First calf of the season.
We are nearing the end of May and calving has been in full swing for close to a month.
Our first calf hit the ground on April 21st and we have had 11 more calves since – all strong and healthy.
Of our 12 calves, we had to pull one 90lb bull calf, and then, provide literally a slight tug of the legs, with our hands, on a heifer calf. The calf likely would have made it out in time but since we had been watching this first-calf heifer mom labor for over an hour and it was obvious she was nearing complete exhaustion, we decided to give her a little hand. Our remaining 10 calves were born without any assistance or human eyes watching. On 10 separate occasions, during our routine herd checks, we would discover a new baby calf. The calf may have been only 30 minutes old or two hours old. The calf may have been nursing his/her mother or curled up next to her, sound asleep after a solid first nursing session. Or, we may have caught that calf standing up, taking his/her first steps and then having that first, critical nursing of colostrum.
Any worries or stress we may be having melt away each time we discover a new calf. We are reminded of why we decided to get into the cattle business. We are reminded of what a miracle birth is. We are reminded of why this is our passion. Every new baby calf reminds us of our responsibilities to these animals and their dependance on us.
We have six more calves to go!
See below for our current Wood Farm Calf Lineup for 2015!
Calf C2
65lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on April 21, 2015
Discovered during a morning herd check, standing and crying outside the pasture fence (calf had walked through the fence). Couple hours old.
Calf C4
74lb Red Angus heifer calf.
Born on April 21, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, within 10 minutes or so of being born. Witnessed first steps and first nursing session.
Spot
Red Angus bull calf
Born on April 29, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, curled up to next to mom. Couple hours old.
Calf C1
84lb Red Angus/Hereford steer calf
Born on April 30, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, walking with his mom. Couple hours old.
Calf C10
76lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on April 30, 2015
Discovered calf only seconds after she hit the ground. Witnessed her taking her first steps and having her first nursing session.
Calf C9
64lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on April 30, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, curled up next to mom. Couple hours old.
Calf C11
61lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on May 2, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, nursing mom. Probably born no more than 30 minutes earlier.
Calf C12
71lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on May 3, 2015 (My 30th birthday!)
Discovered during afternoon herd check. Witnessed first nursing session.
Calf C3
87lb Red Angus steer calf
Born on May 4, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, curled up next to mom. Couple hours old.
Calf C5
90lb Red Angus/Hereford steer calf
Born on May 7, 2015
Mom labored for three hours and would not let us get close enough to pull calf. Had to put mom in head-gate and pull the calf.
Calf C6
86lb Red Angus/Hereford steer calf. Couple hours old.
Born on May 6, 2015
Discovered during morning herd check, curled up to next to mom.
Calf C13
67lb Red Angus heifer calf
Born on May 16, 2015
Labored for over an hour. Had half the calf pushed out and stopped pushing. Jer simply tugged on the calf’s legs and the mom pushed the rest of the calf out on her own.
Stay tuned for our next calving update!