Intervention vs interference.

No new calves this morning but 1607 was showing some signs of getting close. I kept checking her, but there was little progress. After lunch she was close but still not really progressing. She would lie down, stand up, call out, lie down, stand up etc. When she lay down two hooves were visible but that was all that happened - when she stood up they weren't visible. Janette drafted the cows in the hospital paddock such that we could allow three to go back with the herd. So, mastitis cow and the two that had the bacterial infection were let out. That left the original two and they will stay in there.
I started to think about getting her into the yards and pulling the calf. I set up the yards, picked up the pulling gear and got Janette to help. She agreed that we should get her in. Only one problem though - the cow didn't agree with plan A - walk her down to the yards. She just kept wanting to go back up the hill. Plan B then - get the tractor and a roll of hay and get all the cows near to the yards then push her in.
She didn't like this plan either. She walked up the hill a little, lay down and guess what? She calved!
I couldn't help but remember some advice I received many years ago - “there's a fine line between intervention and interference”.
We enjoyed a lovely meal at Martinis with Kathy and Pete. Bev didn't go as she wasn't feeling well. The restaurant was at the allowable capacity - nice to see that support. On the way home it was very obvious that every restaurant was busy - many people did what we did and dined out for the last time for at least six weeks.Read more