Tango!

Our cow Lilac gave birth in the wee hours of this morning, assisted by her loyal farmer. She was pregnant with a Jersey/Angus cross, that we have been anxiously awaiting for 9 months and hoping and praying for a healthy heifer calf. Philip guessed the other day that she would calve on her due date, March 8th. (She proved him wrong by 40 minutes! Women love to do that!) Last night we went to Brattleboro and stopped at the farm on the way home to finish up, about 9 pm. Lilac had cool ears showing that she was flirting with Milk Fever, a calcium deficiency. She had been in labor since 6pm and still hadn't calved. Philip gave her a calcium tube, and came home. He went to bed at 10pm, after deciding that he would get up at midnight, and run down to the barn and check on her. He went down, and could see that she was dancing around ready to go. He helped her by pulling on the calf, which was resisting him. The calf kept pulling its legs back as Philip tried to pull them out. (Calves come out front feet first, then head then body) He delivered the calf with minimal assistance. IT WAS A HEIFER!!! YAY!!!! We named her Tango. She is just beautiful!! She was born at 12:40 on March 9th. Lilac was given another tube, and was able to fend off Milk fever thus far. Philip cam home at 1am and went back to bed until 3:30 and Lilac and Tango were both doing well this morning. She is a big calf, the most beautiful dark brown almost black. She favors the beef body and nose, but overall is very feminine with gorgeous eyes. We couldn't be happier with her. She is going to be raised as a replacement to our beef Brood cow, Leda and will get to raise her beef babies. Leda is pregnant right now, but this will most likely be her last calf, as the twins did a number on her and she is almost 6. Not old, but old for a beef animal. SO exciting!!