Yesterday we lost Pearls' boy calf, but at least we still have Pearl. Herbie pulled him out and we let her spend some time with him before taking him away. His nose was sticking out, his tongue showing, but the legs were still inside, seemingly stuck at the joint. I helped Herbie pull them out, and then he came out sort of easily, although Herbie was shocked on the electric fence as Pearl was lying down right next to it. Now sitting with the problem of trying to get her into the milking parlour. There's no calf to carry in so that she follows, so it's a combination of pulling, shoving, shouting, cajoling. Salle helped me last night, took a long time, but got the milker on her and drained about 1/2 a gallon, but she doesn't let down for the milker. Just trying to make sure she doesn't get mastitis, as she has a high, round and tight little udder. Currently have her tied up in the milking stall, with hay and water and I visit every now and again. Herbie was called in to work early again today, so I had milking by myself. Eventually got the milker on her this morning, also only about 1/2 a gallon which is colostrum so not usable, plus put 1/4 tube of mastitis meds in each quarter last night as a preventative measure. She needs to understand that I'm the boss of her, that I'm stronger and have more will power, but I'm sure getting banged around in the process. She's stood on me, squashed me against a roof support, nearly yanked my fingers out of their sockets, she's one stubborn cow. Tried to use Dolly and Buttercup pull her up the stair into the milking parlour this morning, but it didn't work. She fell down the step last night onto her udder, so she is very wary of it, which is why I've barricaded her in. We closed the gate last night, but she pushed under it, it was wedged up against the wall, so this morning I've used the mobile animal stand to barricade the gate.
Well, let me get back out there and try and finish the front garden.