Waiting Game

The heifer #47, Donna, is nearing her due date. We have been watching her over the last several weeks. Heifers (females that have not yet had a calf) have a tendency to fool us. This will be the very first calf from our new herd sire that we purchased as a calf last year. #47 was his first girlfriend/pen mate as he grew into his sire role so we are excited to see the new baby.

Sometimes heifers look like they could deliver any day and this could go on for weeks. #47 is one of those females, she had her bag filled out, her tail head had begun give her a look sway-back and her back end had slackened and looked puffy. Day after day we have watched her for signs of impending labor. She is slower getting up these days from the extra weight she is carrying, but labor does not seem to be part of the equation.

When we fed hay in the outside mangers for dinner we noticed #47 come down the logging road along with the few stragglers that had moved uphill during the day for foraging. She had her tail raised and all kinked up. Mike and I looked at each other with the question on our lips about needing to move Donna into the big field by herself in preparation for birthing but the heifer only had a big poop and her tail went back to normal.

It doesn’t look like a baby will be coming today after all.