Reality bites. Or sucks. Or doesn’t.
I really wanted this to be a happy-go-lucky, skippedy-do-dah, my-oh-my kind of post.
With all my heart, I wanted that.
Cause it’s calving time round Granite Glen.
For the past few weeks, red and black baby calves
have been popping out into the big wide world…
All knobbly knees and amazed ears and unblinking eyes.
It’s been terribly, terribly cute.
All knobbly knees and amazed ears and unblinking eyes.
It’s been terribly, terribly cute.
But lately, well the weather has turned hot and horrible.
And then this week… well, things went a wee bit terrible.
And then this week… well, things went a wee bit terrible.
.
Mr Incredible brought a calf home – a little black bull calf, whose aging Mama had died soon after giving birth to him. Here he is.
Mr Incredible brought a calf home – a little black bull calf, whose aging Mama had died soon after giving birth to him. Here he is.
A orphan, or ‘poddy calf’.
All cuteness and neediness.
The kind of neediness that is hard to keep up with.
He has pretty much refused to suck the bottle we make up for him four times a day. So four times a day we mix up his formula, head down to the yards and pretty much force feed the little devil. My back aches from leaning over him, holding his head against my thigh, his chin up with one hand and the bottle aloft in the other, wriggling it to send droplets into his mouth, which build up until he has to swallow. It’s painstaking. And the little beggar is not trying very hard.
But he is still alive.
.
AND THEN… my Dad brought home ANOTHER one. Another needy soul.
.
AND THEN… my Dad brought home ANOTHER one. Another needy soul.
A lovely little red heifer calf – only a couple of days old (her little umbilical cord still not fallen off) who DESPERATELY wanted to suckle. We tried to get her to drink from the cow who seemed to be her mother, and she tried, but the cow would have none of it. Violet immediately adopted the sweet-faced long-lashed redhead, alotting Dash the little black bull calf.
Both calves have been brushed and cajoled and talked to endlessly.
Terribly cute.
Terribly cute.
.
But within a few hours of arriving and initially drinking happily from the bottle, the heifer also stopped trying to suckle. She has gone downhill rapidly in the last 24 hours. She is panting like crazy and a bit staggery in the hind legs. We suspect pnuemonia – and have given both calves some antibiotics in case of infection. The bull calf seems to have rallied and even attempted to suckle a second cow brought in to try and help them. A little progress. Fingers crossed.
.
Tonight, though, things seem grim for our little heifer.
But within a few hours of arriving and initially drinking happily from the bottle, the heifer also stopped trying to suckle. She has gone downhill rapidly in the last 24 hours. She is panting like crazy and a bit staggery in the hind legs. We suspect pnuemonia – and have given both calves some antibiotics in case of infection. The bull calf seems to have rallied and even attempted to suckle a second cow brought in to try and help them. A little progress. Fingers crossed.
.
Tonight, though, things seem grim for our little heifer.
She took no milk at all – despite me mixing all kinds of extras in to make it more palatable – and her eyes are dull. Her breathing is even harder. Violet is distraught as we try to prepare her for what might eventuate. I have no pictures of the heifer – I cannot bring myself to take them at the moment. I am saying a little prayer, but am bracing myself for what we might find tomorrow morning… but I can’t leave you like that, can I? In a morass of ‘keepin’ it real’.
So I won’t.
.
THIS is what calves OUGHT to enjoy as a matter of course in their busy little lives
.
THIS is what calves OUGHT to enjoy as a matter of course in their busy little lives
– shady rest with Mum under a big bluegum tree.
And milkbars at the ready.
Where the worst thing that happens during the day…
And milkbars at the ready.
Where the worst thing that happens during the day…
is that some madwoman
rudely interrupts…
while you are mid-suckle…
on the vanilla special of the day.
Getting happy and fat and frothy and frolicky on the good stuff…
.
I am wishing a little of this for our poddies tonight…
I am wishing a little of this for our poddies tonight…
Too much to ask for an early Christmas miracle?
18 Comments
Deb
It's never to early to ask for a miracle and the little heifer just may surprise you. When we get a calf that down, we force a raw egg down their throat. Seems to rally them for some reason. An old timer taught me that.
You are all doing all that you can for them. They are the lucky ones. I do know how hard it is to explain to a child when they don't make it. Give Violet a hug for me 🙂
Sending good thoughts that your "poddies" make a full recovery!
A Novel Woman
Ah, the poor wee things. Let's hope for a tiny miracle, shall we?
Mary Paddock
Aww heck. I am teary for you and Violet. Many's the time I've gotten on my knees with one or all of the boys over some pet that is very ill and asked God to help them get well. On more than one occasion, our creatures have shocked both us and the vet by making a full recovery. However, occasionally the boys just get to learn about death and I get to explain it as best I can and deal with a sadness I can't take away.
It's all part or ranching/farming, I know, but I've never seen a rancher/farmer (that I liked) who didn't get just a little emotional over losing a sick animal they'd been caring for.
I do hope your little Poddy makes it.
Wrensong Farm
That has to be the hardest thing about raising livestock, and it never seems to get any easier. Wishing you an early Christmas miracle with your little Poddys.
Debby
Aw. No. It is never too early (or late) for to ask for a Christmas miracle. Me? I'll be praying earnestly for a little girl who is in the middle of learning about 'the big stuff'. The big stuff is hard, no matter how old you are, but when you are four, well, it seems even bigger.
My very best prayers are for the children in this world, two legged, four legged, species doesn't matter.
Kelly
This post makes me both happy and sad. Happy because I think calves are so cute and love it when we have new ones in our pasture. Sad because I hate it when things go wrong. I'm glad we're out of the goat business since we seemed to have more problems there. We've been quite fortunate with our cows.
Hope your little ones make it!!
Pony Girl
Sorry to hear about the little orphan poddy calves. I do hope the she-calf pulls through. It's why I don't think I'd ever raise cattle or any large quantity of animals, I couldn't deal with mother nature and her random attempt at heartache. I just get too attached!!
Kate
Awe sweet Violet. I'm sending hugs and love from far far away. It's never too early or late for a miracle but however it turns out please tell Violet that she has lots of crazy blog friends who are sad right along with her and sending loves her way.
Mikey
Aww, they are so adorable! Prayers for the poddy calves… (I've learned a new word, lol) I hope the one pulls thru.
Debby
And is it just me or does that tree in the second picture resemble the apple trees from the Wizard of Oz? The mean ones that talked and threw apples at the scarecrow?
*shiver*
jeanie
Oh no, got me all teary and pray-ey – I hope this morning offers some rally.
Jenni
Ah, Christmas miracle. Now I get the tweet. I hope that doesn't mean what I think it does.
Jayne
Bugger, sorry to hear that.
Hope Violet is ok.
traceelements
A hard lesson in the random laws of natural selection huh.
The Accidental Housewife
T reckon posts like this should have an *emotions* warning for people like me who are still trying to regulate motherhood hormones.
I hope Violet has a little longer before she has to learn about the realities. I hope the poddys have a lot longer too.
BUSH BABE
Yeah… sorry guys. The tweet DID mean what you thought it might. Our little redhead went to heaven last night sometime. Perhaps she's breathing easier there.
Our little bullcalf is sucking furiously from the cow we think was the red calf's Ma (while she is caught in the crush) this morning. Little beggar just doesn't like the milk I make. A long way to go before we can let him out with her… everything crossed for that eventuality. My back (and heart) can't take too much more force feeding!
🙂
BB
Leenie
Such beautiful animals! High priced, too, I'd guess. So sorry for the loss of the little one. Best wishes for better weather and good health for your other orphan.
Debby
This conversation you have with your children will be one that they remember for the rest of their lives. No stress there, hey?