Sick Babies

Well, sadly things don't always go the way we want them to go.  I am not writing this blog to give the glowing picture that we have everything right, because we don't.  I had a humbling week last week.  We had to ship all of our baby calves down to Danny's dad's farm to be raised.  We have struggled with calf health issues on this farm ever since we came here, and this year was looking to be worse than last year.  Last year we had calves that were spiking temperatures, breathing rapidly, had droopy ears, and if untreated, would quit eating.  Last year we first noticed it in some of our two-week old calves and had to medicate about half of our calves.  This year, I saw the same symptoms starting with a five day old calf, and when I saw her, I saw a few more who were looking suspicious.  So, we called up Danny's dad (who was only planning to take his calves this year) and told him that they would all be coming.  We hauled them out that night and we take the newborns over every day or so.

We are working with our vet to find out what on earth is going on and he has taken some blood samples and ruled out the possibility of inadequate colostrum (mama's first nutrient and antibody rich milk which gives calves a temporary immune system boost until they can build their own).  He has listened to their lungs and said it isn't starting out sounding like a respritory problem, but we are left scratching our heads.

We have a suspicion that it is largely due to to our bank barn (where we have been housing calves).  Why do we keep putting them in there?  Well, we were planning on only keeping them in there for a week this year--long enough to get a group together before we put them outside.  Unfortunately, they were getting sick even before we could do that.  Why put them in there at all?  We are working on that.  What it boils down to is that we aren't set up to put them somewhere else and we have to have a way to provide shelter for them in the rainy weather.  We aren't finacially in a place yet where we can afford to buy or make shelters for them so they can avoid the bank barn (being as this is only our third year in business).  So, this year we are hauling them to dad's.  I was really upset about it, because as much as raising calves wears me out, I love it. 

I will update with pictures of the babies in their new home soon.  Danny and I are upset and worn out by this somewhat unanswered issue, but we know that even in this God has a purpose and a plan.  We don't know what it is yet, and we are trying to be open and teachable to what lessons there are to be learned here, but we KNOW that HE has a plan and we will trust in Him to provide just as He already has by the fact that we DO have a place to take them to so they don't have to stay in a contaminated environment.  He does provide.  It may not always be in the way we would prefer, but our God DOES provide and we will rest in that and keep looking to Him.

The count.

We are up to 49 cows milking. 

25 baby heifer calves (1 born dead) so 24 live.

We have had to pull 8 calves so far.  Not what we would call a great ratio, but we are evaluating our herd records to see reasons and common links in the ones we have had to pull.  We have some ideas, but no proof.  We will plod on and take courage at these challenges that are excellent reminders to put our hope and trust in the Lord and not in things or people or our jobs, because they will let us down, they will dissappoint, but God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us and we will put our trust in Him and pray that with whatever you are facing--you will do the same.

Blessings to you all.