~It's a Girl !! ~

December 9th, 2008 4:39 p.m.

Introducing Tylerfarm's Gertrude (AKA "Squirt McGert")

We went to the barn in the morning for chores as usual and all was normal. Jan was still as big as a house and very uncomfortable. It was snowing lightly but I put her out so she could proceed with her morning routine and I thought the exercise would be helpful. I put her in around 11:30 as it was snowing harder and I didn't want her to have the calf outside. Her udders were so full they were practically sticking out sideways. I knew it wouldn't be long now :)

We checked her at 2:30 and she seemed somewhat distressed. Breathing heavily and getting up and down, not being able to get comfortable. My adopted daughter, Shane, came to visit yesterday afternoon and Tom went to the barn for night chores before we got out there. We saw him running back to the house and we knew we had a calf arriving. The photos that follow is what we saw when we arrived:

CAUTION: Birthing photos.......

Normal presentation....two front feet & nose

delivery was a very short process.........I did go in the stall and quickly remove the sac over the nose.....

Jan is such a great mother - she immediately went to work cleaning up her calf.....

You can see a short video of Jan cleaning off Gertrude (it's rather dark but you can tell what she's doing and listen to her communicating with her new calf)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSEnFGf9tFg

In about a half an hour Gertrude was on her feet and looking for the food supply. All seemed fine so we finished our evening chores and let them be.

She's very alert and inquisitive ~

Tom and I went out again at 9pm and both Jan and baby were fine. Jan had passed her placenta and the baby had nursed on all four udders. The calf was lying in the a pile hay and Jan was munching away. We cleaned out her stall, gave her fresh hay and water and marvelled and this beautiful little creature. No matter how many times I witness the miracle of birth, it never ceases to amaze me. We are so blessed and I am grateful, as always.

This morning Mom and baby are fine. I grained Jan in her milking stall, hand milked her to relieve her udders where the baby hadn't nursed, cleaned her stall and checked baby all over while Mom had her grain. She's perfect! They are resting comfortably and all is well.

It was 7 degrees yesterday morning. This morning it was 50 degrees.....talk about weather extremes. We were very happy that she waiting until last night to deliver instead of the day before. Cold weather is expected for the end of the week but Gertrude will do fine with her Mom when it arrives.

~ Have a great day ~