And now it’s time to face the music…

[unclebilly]

2 hours from home after my surgery, my wife calls me to inform me that I need to pull a calf… I told her that’s impossible because I am 2 hours away and I can’t use one of my legs, it’s broken and I just got released from the hospital after surgery on that leg.

I called a neighbour to come help, he said it looks like a c-section to him. I then called the vet who arrived just before I got home. My 13 year old fed the other cows a bale and I’m in the house arranging flashlights.

Oh, did I mention it is -21°C? That’s -6F…

They are doing a C-section. I’m in the house with my foot up and feeling guilty.

[Steve Carlton]

Well, since you got nothing else to do, watch Lamb on Amazon Prime.

[unclebilly]

I guess another vet is in the way now… I can’t see how the calf will survive this mess.

[Steve Carlton]

Hoping for the best here...

[fanaudical]

That's a tough spot to be in. Just remember - You've got to take care of yourself first so you can take care of others later. I hope you have a speedy recovery on the leg.

[Tobra]

Pretty smart stuff for a guy that likes Audis

[unclebilly]

This just in… the calf is in my shop and alive! They are sewing the cow back together.i have no idea if this calf will suck given it never passed through the birth canal. It will be on powdered colostrum tonight.

[oldE]

I suspect your wife has already suggested you give up either skiing or cattle.
When I read your other thread the first thing that popped into my critter-caring brain was a similar scenario.
Thanks to good neighbors.
Two vets: that's one expensive calf.
Hang in there.

Best
Les

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I’m in the house with my foot up and feeling guilty.

I know how it feels. Times like these make you realize how well you’ve set up a world that revolves around- or at least depends on - YOU. This might be a good time to look for ways to not be “The Guy” all the time in the future. If that’s possible. Maybe it’s not. I haven’t figured it out.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

This just in… the calf is in my shop and alive! They are sewing the cow back together.i have no idea if this calf will suck given it never passed through the birth canal. It will be on powdered colostrum tonight.

That’s good to hear. In a situation like this which one is at the greater risk, the cow or the calf? I assume the cow is more valuable.

[masraum]

So we knew that you'd broken your leg, but the missus didn't? I guess you were keeping her from worrying.

Glad to hear that it got worked out. Of course, of all of the times to have a difficult calving that required a C-section, this would be that time. I guess that makes this easier since someone else would have had to do that whether you were on two good legs or not.

On a related note, I guess it makes sense, but I had never considered the idea of a C-section for farm animals. I assume that's fairly rare.

Heal up quick fella! Congrats on the new calf and having help.

[unclebilly]

This cow will be auction bound after this. We had to pull her calf last year too.

Keep an eye out for her at an a&w or McDonald’s near you this fall…

[stealthn]

I thought. A&W used Australian beef here?

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

This cow will be auction bound after this. We had to pull her calf last year too.

Keep an eye out for her at an a&w or McDonald’s near you this fall…

How will we know if it's an uncle billy burger?

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by stealthn

I thought. A&W used Australian beef here?

I think they used to but are now on the grass fed kick… who knows?

They used to be all about the no antibiotic beef until it was rubbed in their nose just how cruel this is to the animals.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by masraum

So we knew that you'd broken your leg, but the missus didn't? I guess you were keeping her from worrying.

She was well aware. Instead of taking charge in a situation where it’s on her to step up, she likes to make it as stressful as possible for me… because I don’t have enough in my mind / plate.

I told her many times, just call the vet. You want them to help you save an animal, not do an autopsy. They can’t do much else once the animal is dead.

[billybek]

Bummer. Your lucky to have neighbors that know what they are doing. I wouldn't have a clue.