When Aunty Del walked into the milking shed, yesterday afternoon, for her pratice milking (standing in the stall eating left overs while I brush her) dripping milk all over the floor, Victoria and I looked at each other and blocked off all her exits. She was showng all the signs of imminent labour, dripping milk from her tiny tiny udder and dropping strands of mucous. her tail was up but she refused After she had cleaned up after Lady Astor we manoevered her back into the barn, where Sam and McKenna had laid clean new straw. Within three hours she had delivered Talia. The tiniest heifer. Talia is almost three weeks early. I had to pull her and then revive her so it was touch a go for a while. Still wearing my milking apron.
Within an hour of delivery Del stumbled and fell to the floor of the barn. I gave her water with molasses where she lay and she drunk heartily and for thirty minutes Sam and I held her head up refusing to let her lie flat out. We gave her high calcium hay that Kevin threw down from the loft and Axel filled her water up to the top.
Suddenly she rose again, heaving her huge body up out of the straw and we all breathed easier. The Lady Vet (on the other end of some rapid txts thought maybe it was the heat – it was hot). Not milk fever after all – milk fever was my fear. Hope this does not recur.
Baby was so tiny and weak that while her mother was lying on the floor Victoria thawed and brought out colostrum we had frozen from Lady Astor. Mouthful by mouthful baby drunk the milk and after her mother finally rose I milked her by hand and gave baby even more. It took Talia a good four hours before she was able to stand.
Del was perfectly well behaved. A lovely cow to work with.
By 11pm we were all in bed. Aunty, Talia – my startling crew and me.
I checked them a few times in the night and they are OK though Del is still confused about feeding. It all happened so fast to this new mother. I still think dairy cows (first mothers) are a bit stupid about calves, beef cows feed their babies so much faster.
This morning Victoria and I will milk her and I will give baby another bottle. Though she will be with her mother of course.
Phew. I hope she does well – she is so tiny. When her mother lies down with her head up, baby standing next to her – comes up to her mothers eye. I can pick her up and move her about easily so I am guessing a little over 50 pounds.
I had no hands at all so told the girls to get the camera and they took these shots for you.
If all is still going well today I will do a photographic series and a special edition this afternoon so you can be introduced to Talia properly.
It is Victoria and Kevin’s last day today – they leave tomorrow. So it is a big last supper tonight.
More soon – must get going. Today will be pumping.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “Meet Talia”
Good heavens, what a start to the day. How lovely to have a new little one, and being Aunty Del’s girl, she’s bound to be pretty. I hope you all survived your day, and that the next few will not be too taxing.
Amazing and so good that you are there looking after them 🙂
What an educational day for your guests! I am sure the adrenaline was pumping high with all involved. This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives I am sure. I hope Aunty Del and Talia have a restful day and are well on the road to recovery. Giving birth is a dramatic experience after all, doesn’t matter what animal you are!
Life with livestock is never straight forward is it? Looking forward to seeing your photos.
Fingers and toes crossed that this somewhat early arrival will keep healthy and grow . . . she is so tiny and will be so precious . . . coincidentally my granddaughter is called Tahlia: small world again 🙂 !
Hope all is well this morning. Welcome to the farmy Talia
Precious wee thing. Rooting for her!
Have a wonderful and happy day C.
🙂 Mandy xo
what a chuckle! and what a great event for two leavers to witness such a absolute miracle before they left. This is something they will always remember… Hello Talia my little gorgeous baby..welcome to the Farmy…and Well done to all of you
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 at 1:36 PM
Reading this my eyes are tearing up. What an experience for your crew of young folk! Hopefully it all goes smoothly from here on in! Welcome to the world teeny Talia!
My eyes have a bit more than teared up. What a wonderful post. And yes, your woofers will remember that all their lives. More tears here. Much love, Your Gayle
What a blessing you had Victoria and the rest of the crew there with you. Many hands and all that. Congratulations to Aunty Del, Tahlia, you and woofers.
Remembering all the other wee, tiny, ill, & orphan babies you have brought through the valley of the shadow, Celi, Aunty Del & Talia were blessed to be with you on birthing day. And you were lucky to have had wonderful help beside you.
I hope it continues to go well for everyone, Tiny Talia & her mother especially. Maybe you once thought you were leaving Drama behind you!
What jmcheney said about Drama. Good one! Much love, Your Gayle
What a tiny little girl she is. And what an experience the helpers are getting! Every time I read one of these stories, I dream of getting my girls over there to help some summer. (Don’t know how much they would help you, but being there would do them a WORLD of good.
Best of luck with Talia!
What a final day for Victoria & Kevin, an experience to treasure all their lives. Glad you were on the spot when labour started. Fingers crossed that all goes well. I look forward to seeing the photos later on the laptop.
Awww she is a pretty little thing. Good that she was able to lay up on her feet and not flat on her side soon after she was born. Even better she was able to stand, sometimes even large full term calves don’t get up much quicker than that. It is possible the tornado/storm had some thing to do with the early birth as it was very close to you. Also have you soil tested the other farm’s pastures yet? I know you have worked hard to balance the farmy’s pastures but I’m thinking the other farm has been a bit neglected. If Aunty Del did have a mild case of milk fever she may never have it again or she could have it worse next time. We had cows that did it both ways at least you know to watch her close next calving. Looking forward to baby Talia pictures.