Saturday 23rd March, 2002: Onix had her calf.
These pictures were all taken by my Aunty Ruth, who looks after Onix.
Saturday 23 March, 11.15am
ONIX IN LABOUR!
A very typical look for a heifer as she begins
her labour... tail out, pacing the paddock.
12.08pm
In this position for ages, Onix just quietly
had lots of contractions which really didn't seem to be doing anything at all.
12.53pm
Then she got up and moved to a different spot.
She seemed quite keen to be nearer the other heifer who was sitting further up the bank.
12.59pm
After a few more contractions, this membrane
appeared and then, just as the next photo was taken, it burst....
1.00pm
....and suddenly, there was a foot!
1.06pm
Then two feet.
1.21pm
Onix stood and licked the ground for ages,
cleaning up the fluid which had poured out when the first membrane broke. She sat down to
get on with things at one point, but was startled by the cows over the fence, who got all upset
about her calving right next to them.
1.49pm
Eventually she lay down and started pushing
again. The whitish looking thing above the foot, is the calf's tongue, which was sticking
way out of it's mouth as the head began to show.
1.56pm
The head is on its side, instead of having the
chin resting on the legs. I wondered if that would cause a problem.
1.58pm
2.01pm
Even when she stood up, the nose was still
visible.
2.07pm
But then things started to move and each push
showed more head.
2.08pm
2.08pm
2.08pm
2.08pm
The head folded under as it caught on the
ground on the way out.
2.08pm
2.08pm
2.09pm
2.09pm
2.15pm
2.16pm
Onix has a daughter!
2.16pm
2.16pm
2.19pm
2.22pm
2.24pm
This calf was very quick to start getting on
her feet!
2.30pm
2.34pm
2.40pm
She also knew exactly where she wanted
to go.
2.44pm