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”
Well done Aunty Dell and welcome Talia, pretty calf pretty name. Sooo … the farmy seems to be holding true to “if its early it’s a heifer and if it’s late it is a bullock” – for this season anyway. 🙂 Laura
I’m so excited for you and Aunty Dell, the baby Talia is so tiny and precious .I thank you for sharing this amazing event with us.I have always wanted to live on a farm but this is fun watching your farm adventures every morning. Im looking forward to watching her grow, I hope everything goes well for all of you.
Well done Aunty Del and especially well done to C and the crew! Good morning sweet Talia.
A beautiful heifer, fingers crossed that she thrives, but with your care and attention I am sure they will both be fine😊
Wow
Wow
oh my- sending lots of loving thoughts to the tiny calf…never a dull moment. Thank goodness she was with you in the barn.
Congratulations and welcome to the world little Talia! What a great thing to have the extra help for that delivery. She looks like a beauty and I hope she and mama continue to do well.
Out here in Maine it’s difficult to get local hay that is high in alfalfa content (which I believe has higher calcium percent, and it is supposed to provide more protein) so I add kelp and alfalfa pellets to my animal feed, especially to those who are pregnant or nursing/milking. I believe it has helped me avoid milk fever or toxemia in my little herd. I am not a scientist, but it seems to help!
Oh interesting – I add kelp too! but did not know it was a good way to avoid milk fever – thank you good to know.. c
Fingers crossed that both mother and calf continue to do well. I’m impressed that you knew what to do to help revive them both. Never a dull moment down on the farm!
It’s a good thing Aunty Del was in the milking parlour and you saw what was going on. Better she didn’t drop that lovely little calf out in the pasture. It looks like Aunty is going to be a good mother, just needs some time to figure things out. A marvelous gift to your woofers too. All the best!
Oh Talia, be well, little one. You are so very welcome and what a home you will have if you hold on.
She is beautiful .. You are such a good Mum
I love the little patch of light brown around her eye.
My eyes welled with tears reading this. What a physical and emotional experience, for you and all the woofers. Sending love and best wishes to all.
Every time I read about someone tearing up, *I* tear up…and worse! Much love, Your Gayle
Good work team 😊