If you don’t know… mini jerseys are the most dramatic of the cow family. Every one is curious, cautious, and overly dramatic!

Our 2-yr-old Callidora, who was born and raised right here on the farm, was due with her first calf on June 16th. About a week before, right on schedule, her udder started filling up, her rear end had a small string of mucus, and she looked rightly uncomfortable. Not to mention, it was in the high 90s the whole week. We were all miserable, but especially her!

She started hanging out in the barn, laying down most of the time. I thought the calf might come early, and was certain of that fact when I saw her lifting her tail and tensing up. Those are contractions! I watched her on the barn cam, knowing she would deliver any time. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Certainly within a day or two. I called a cow friend who agreed. We spent two days watching her in person and on camera. I set my alarm every two hours through the nights to check the camera. But…on day three… still no calf.

Days four and five were the same. Looking like she was ready to push, then not pushing. On day six, I was convinced something was wrong, so I called out our AI tech (no, not the AI you’re thinking, AI as in artificial insemination). During his internal examination, he looked confused, but he was certain he felt two feet. No head. The calf was backwards. That would explain why she was starting and stopping labor. The calf was in the wrong position.

The following morning, which was a Sunday and cost me a small fortune in emergency-service fees, we drove her 1.5 hrs to our cow vet, concerned she was delivering a backwards calf and would need assistance. When the vet examined her, she had the same puzzled look on her face as the AI tech. Finally, she said, “I feel one foot and teeth.” Another vet in training asked if she could examine her. Of course, the more smart people helping, the better. She found the same result. One foot at 12 o’clock and one nose (with teeth) at 10 o’clock. They said the other foot was either down under her or bent backwards, in which case, she would need assistance during calving to get that foot straight, but it wasn’t a dire emergency. We opted to induce her and bring her back home. We were assured we’d see a calf within the next 72 hrs. The last week of what looked like start/stop labor was actually CHOLIC! A cows intestinal tract is on her left side and the calf was laying on it. If you question the anatomy of a pregnant cow, just remember Lunch on the Left, Rugrat on the Right.

Tuesday morning about 5 am, I saw her on camera actively pushing!! I called my cow friend and apologized for waking her, but it was go time! If I had to pull a calf, I wanted someone else who was experienced to be here for moral support. I also had two nearby friends on call, two cow friends by phone on call, and the vet waiting for an update. It’s stressful having a baby and it takes a village!!

My cow friend, Farm Hero, and I gathered in the barn, and as she pushed, we saw a foot. Okay, that’s expected. A few pushes later, we saw a second foot. Whew! We can breathe now. Then came the nose. This is happening just like it’s supposed to. She did, however, have one foot shorter than the other and the head was very, very, very tight. Farm Hero sat on the ground next to her and started to pull as she pushed. Dang! The head was tight! To lighten the stress, we joked that the calf had a Klingon forehead. Once the calf’s elbow popped out and the leg straightened, it was a lot easier to get the head out, but he pulled HARD! It seemed like forever, and I considered calling in the on-call reinforcements, but it was seriously only about 15 or 20 minutes, and Pop! out came the calf. Poor Callidora was tired. She had been uncomfortable for a week. Now, it was over and everyone was fine.

So, now you know. It may look like labor. It may be labor. But it may also be cholic. Drama. Drama. Drama.

Introducing Little Miss Trace Creek Daisy May born right on her due date, June 16, 2026.

Her momma LOVES her!

For the cow folks out there:

Sire: Dexter Corner’s Brigadier (DC Doctor Luv, DC May Lei)

Dam: Trace Creek Callidora (Rocking Robin’s Romeo, Kristoff’s Belle)

Geno: A1/A2 Heterozygous

Registration: IMCBR31553