She was recumbent (meaning she could sit up) but she could not stand up for more than a few seconds. She could not eat on her own and needed assistance to take nourishment.

I fed her with an esophogeal tube for two days and massaged her one night to help her with circulation. We had a space heater in there a while that night and on and off over the next couple days, too.

Click here to see a photo slideshow from Julie Brown of cow-calf pairs.

On the third day I went in to see about her that evening and she got up and... nursed! It was just magical.

Anyway, her and the cow were both real dolls to work with — and it's a good thing because it let us help them. Now they always come over to check me out. 


P.S. Yes, we did have to restrain the cow to milk her. But she got really good about things by the sixth time. This photo represents what last week — and the last two weeks, for that matter — have been all about at my house... calves,calves, calves.

Julie Brown

Progressive Cattleman Staff
julie@progressivecattle.com