.Benedict arrived late yesterday afternoon -- in fact, was 3/4 of the way born when Justin spotted Clover lying down. We had known she was near her time but she hadn't shown the usual signs that would have let us know a birth was imminent.
This was Clover's first calf -- always a slightly anxious time -- but she did it without help and seems pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.John called me and I came down to the pasture where he and Justin and Ariel (Claui's niece) were all in attendance.
He's maybe a half an hour old -- still wet and with the waxy hooves that will harden soon -- soft and waxy to make the birth easier on the mama.
Marigold, on the left, is hoping there's some sweet feed in that bucket.
Clover licks her baby
and he begins to struggle to his feet.
Not easy when you've be curled up for nine months . . .
But he's up!
There's a hiatus in the pictures here as Justin carried the baby to the little milk barn and Ariel and I herded Clover after him.
In the milk barn, Clover is rewarded with sweet feed and some chopped up pears. Her head is in the stanchion so she'll stay put while Justin does a little milking -- a first for her.
Baby Benedict is in a stall for the moment . . .
Justin makes sure that the milk is flowing in all four quarters . . .
Then Ariel helps the baby find the teat.
He catches on fast.
Check out those eyelashes below!
Live action HERE on YouTube.
