Go Astro!

Clarabelle, our Jersey heifer, was expecting her first calf on November 4th.  I checked on her yesterday afternoon and came in and told Tricia and the boys that I thought she may calve before November 1st.  We ate supper and then watched the Astros playing game 6 in the World Series.  At about 11:30 pm I walked outside to check on Clarabelle with a flashlight.

What a surprise greeted me!  Clarabelle had given birth to a baby calf.

I lifted a leg to check out the calf's "under-carriage" and saw that he had 'male equipment.'  We always hope for a heifer, but it's okay.  We figured it was only fitting since he was born during the World Series to give the little guy the name, "Astro!"  As I was watching, he struggled to his feet and stood for the first time.  I took that to mean that the Astros were going to win Game 7 (and they did!)

This morning it was raining, but Clarabelle was licking him and taking care of him.

We also checked to ensure that Astro was nursing on Clarabelle to get the colostrum which is so important to his health, strength, and growth.  He was getting colostrum as Rosie and her little bull looked on from the next pasture.

Astro was shivering, trying to stay warm in the rain so Tricia took him and Clarabelle into the barn where he was able to dry off somewhat and get warm.

As we let him out of the barn, Rosie's bull calf (who was born on September 11th) introduced himself to his cousin, the new kid on the block.

Daisy and Luna are also pregnant.  Hopefully they'll give us heifers.  Regardless, it is always an exciting time when baby calves hit the ground.