.
Benedict arrived late yesterday afternoon -- in fact, was 3/4 of the way born when Justin spotted Clover lying down. We had known she was near her time but she hadn't shown the usual signs that would have let us know a birth was imminent.
This was Clover's first calf -- always a slightly anxious time -- but she did it without help and seems pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.
John called me and I came down to the pasture where he and Justin and Ariel (Claui's niece) were all in attendance.
He's maybe a half an hour old -- still wet and with the waxy hooves that will harden soon -- soft and waxy to make the birth easier on the mama.
Marigold, on the left, is hoping there's some sweet feed in that bucket.
Clover licks her baby
and he begins to struggle to his feet.
Not easy when you've be curled up for nine months . . .
But he's up!
There's a hiatus in the pictures here as Justin carried the baby to the little milk barn and Ariel and I herded Clover after him.
In the milk barn, Clover is rewarded with sweet feed and some chopped up pears. Her head is in the stanchion so she'll stay put while Justin does a little milking -- a first for her.
Baby Benedict is in a stall for the moment . . .
Justin makes sure that the milk is flowing in all four quarters . . .
Then Ariel helps the baby find the teat.
He catches on fast.
Check out those eyelashes below!
14 comments:
Clover and Benedict are both BEEYOOOTIFUL. If I had been on the scene I would have been weeping at the glory of the whole experience.
Calves, kittens, puppies . . . brand new baby anything . . . gotta hand it to the little critters. It isn't easy getting born, is it!
How exciting. I'm so glad you shared this with us Vicki. I've never seen the birthing of a calf, much less a newborn.
What an adorable baby you are Benedict. I'm going to share a little secret with you that you will soon find out for yourself - you are very blessed to live on this farm where they care and love for their four-legged friends.
Sam
This is adorable...new life shared with all of us. He's so sweet, his mom is catching on for all her duties, and you had your camera! Thanks so much.
congrats clover on your new little one....looks like a lovely little child....
Thank you for sharing. Congratus to Clover and to you! A beauty.
There is a slide show of Marigold giving birth on a post a few years ago -- http://vickilanemysteries.blogspot.com/2010/09/now-she-is-cow.html
One of the great blessings of life on the farm! Kudos to Clover.
Oh I LOVE the name!! He's certainly as gorgeous although in a very different way!
Great name!! Always wonderful to have a new addition to the 'family.'
Lynne in GA
I went to your photos first and the whole story is told in pictures. It is so neat that you have a new calf. A friend of mine bought a horse during the summer and about four weeks later the horse dropped her baby, The friend didn't know she was to have one. Young animals are fun.,
Congratulations to beautiful Mama Clover, and to her delightful new son Benedict.
Vicki, thank you so much for this lovely post showing some precious hours in which a loved Clover is helped to give her new son a brilliant start by some very wise and caring human beings.
In a week that has had its fill of not so pleasant news stories, it was particularly wonderful to see this post.
xo
So sweet! I am so happy all went well for all of you!
Beautiful baby!
Beautiful baby!
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