Em Nau Farm BLOG

 Well, it seems we're never short of activity, adventure or even drama here at Em Nau Farm and this latest week has been no exception.. <?Grab a cuppa/drink, settle in, and let me tell you about it.

Just in case there's a limit to the amount of text within a post, let's call this "Laverne - Chapter 1."

Last Saturday (a week ago yesterday) I was out an about and drove past a dairy farm just up the road from here. For some time I'd been thinking about stopping to say gidday to the dairyfarmer next time I saw someone at the dairy - as you do - but of course never anyone about or I was in a rush. Anyway, on this particular occasion there was this bloke tearing along on a quad bike and pulled into the house closeby. I thought "Ah Ha! My chance at last!"

So, pulled over, introduced myself, told him how we'd just moved to the area recently, had a few acres blah blah blah, and would be interested if they ever had a heifer poddy calf they might be looking to offload. In about 25 words or less, the bloke told me he wasn't the bloke to talk to, but a cow had just had trouble calving - he had to pull the HUGE calf (heifer) using the quad bike and neither the cow nor calf looked like they were going to make it - AND - he had to rush to call the owner who lived over there (pointing to a house on the nearby ridge) to get him to go and assist both cow and calf - sorry can't talk - gotta go! Phhew! Still with me? Good!

Two days later on the Monday I happen to be out and about again and driving past the same dairy on the way home - a ute pulls up at the same time and I thought - "Ah Ha! My chance AGAIN!"

So, pulled over, introduced myself, told him how we'd just moved to the area recently, had a few acres blah blah blah, and would be interested if they ever had a heifer poddy calf they might be looking to offload. The bloke tells me he's the owner of the farm, and his old man had told me about how I spoke to him on the Saturday, and as it so happens they'd JUST picked up THE heifer calf from the paddock, and here she is in the back of the ute, tied up with baling twine! And then he says, you can take her now if you like! Some discussion followed which ended with the agreement - IF she survives, I buy the dairyfarmer a $10 scratchie - if the scratchie wins, we go halves... Gotta be happy with that!

Never one to miss an opportunity, I then asked the farmer if he happens to have another little heifer poddy in the next week or so looking for a home, this HUGE fresian/jersey cross heifer calf that is to be called Laverne will be looking for her mate Shirley! He said he'd let me know..

Moments later, I'm heading back down the road to our place with Laverne - tied up with baling twine in the back of the ute - 2 days old - no certainty as to whether she'd sucked in those 2 days in the paddock ie no colostrum - damaged front legs from being pulled by the quad bike - with pretty much little chance of survival.....

 Laverne - Chapter 2.

As we slowly crawl down the steep driveway to our home and adjacent cattle holding yard, Laverne is calling out for all to hear, "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...................... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................", as calves do. Clearly she'll never make a burglar!

Upon Laverne's announcement, Beaudette with her 2 trusty sidekicks Kazza and Beth come tearing up to the fence to see what all the commotion is about, and who it is who's making all this Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...ing sound. So Beaudette and the girls then start Mooooooooooooooooooooo...ing... And Laverne answers back Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...................

Getting her out of the ute was an ordeal in itself. Still tied up with baling twine - lifting her out I felt like the Big Bad Wolf! I was huffing and puffing and could have easily blown down ANY house of straw or sticks - I tell you! This calf definitely weighed more than 1 bag of chook food, probably more like 2 bags of chook food. It was a bit like trying to lift a really heavy bag of spuds in a very loose bag with spuds trying to escape all at the same time....

Anyway, managed to lug her down the slope onto some grass by the fence for Beaudette and the girls to say gidday. Untied her and then tried to stand her up. Back legs seems ok, but front leg problems then became evident - left hock/wrist/ankle wouldn't straighten and she kept trying to stand on her fist (?) - right hock/wrist/ankle seemed a bit splayed and was pointing out at a slightly weird angle. Hmm.... As I think to myself - "If she survives....."

Laverne seemed to be a bit interested in what was about her, and tried to take steps, but each time, both front feet buckled under, and she ended up standing on her front "fists". Each time, I would lift her leg and get her up on her hoof - trying to straighten her leg/s. She seemed bright enough - keeping in mind she may not have had anything to drink since she was born only 2 days earlier.

Time to think feeding her..... Luckily, I'd decided to milk Sienna the morning after she'd kidded, so had about a litre of colostrum in the freezer - thinking at the time this will come in handy one day - little did I know it would less than a week later! So thawed the goat colostrum and mixed with some of Beaudette's milk from that morning - heated to about the right temp - and using a calf feeding bottle (here's one I'd purchased/prepared some months earlier thinking we might get poddy calves at some stage ) topped 'er up to about a litre and went to see what Laverne made of the offering. As I was unsure of whether she'd had anything to drink in those first 2 days, didn't want to overdo it, so thought a smaller feed might be the way to go.

Well let me tell you - Laverne may not have had a good grasp of the whole standing or walking caper, but she sure as hell knew how to suck the guts out of that bottle! Such a good girl!

Even after she'd finished the 1L bottle without a break, she was looking for more, but the dairy farmer assured me that 2L twice a day will be plenty for her. I figured that I would give her another litre about 530ish when I'd milked Beaudette - give her a rest and a bit at a time. It seemed after she'd finished the bottle, she'd become a bit more interested and excited and tried to move about a bit more - but still stumbling to her fists each time.

Perhaps the chances of "If she survives...." mightn't be so slim after all!

 Laverne - Chapter 3.

By this stage, it's about 4pm and I'm wondering the best place would be for Laverne to sleep. As it so happened, that weekend the Brett had just completed the NEW kid donga, adjacent to existing goat dongas and pen/paddock. We'd yet to build the fence to the little kid donga, but it would do the trick with a bit of mesh to cover the entrance. I didn't want any dingo to make a quick feast of her after she'd survived 2 days out in the paddock!! So - quickly made a bed for her with fresh straw - found some mesh and trusty CABLE TIES, and of course occy straps for the open/close end.

In the meantime, Laverne was practising trying to walk on her fists. I thought about carrying her to the little donga, but she seemed to be keen to try, so by taking it slow and straightening her fists/wrists, we made very slow progress - of about 3 steps. Carry her I must! Anyway - got her into bed in her new quarters - and she happily sat down, curled up and watched and waited.

Speaking of watching and waiting, and keeping in mind Laverne's donga is adjoining/adjacent to the goat pen, there were 6 goats ALL poking their heads through the hingelock, doing the "Ah, 'Scuse me!! What the? Who the?? Not Happy Jan the!! Hmmmm the??? Snort the! Snort!" Very interesting to see their reactions indeed!

Come 530 - another litre of warm Beaudette milk for Laverne. As soon as I untied the occy straps on the mesh, she stood up (on her fists), but then by herself, moved from fist to hoof - so I was most pleased she'd done that on her pat malone! She then happily welcomed the bottle again and made very short work of the second Beaudette offering - sucked the guts out of that bottle again in no time! She even tried to follow me out of the little donga, but I poked her back in, and reapplied occy straps and she was done for the day! Go to bed little girl and please wake up tomorrow!

Laverne seemed to be doing so well in such a short time! "IF she survives......" Hmmph! I reckon we'd be ok!

 Next morning - before I can see her - through the noise of the roosters and guinea fowl and goats - I hear, "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........." What a marvellous sound to hear!

This time, I up the ante and give her 2L of Beaudette milk. She's quite excited to see me as I open the mesh - she stumbles out with a mix of fists and hooves and gets going on the bottle again no probs! I'm thinking this calf caper is too easy! "IF she survives....?" Sheesh! We've got this down pat!


Let me now condense the next day or so for you. That day (keep in mind she'd 3 days old), she guzzles 4L of Beaudette milk - becomes much steadier on her pins and less troubles with fists/wrists. She's brighter, walking more and keeps looking for more tucker.

Next morning (Day 4), yup - you guessed it - she's scouring. Not just scouring, but bloody mucous in there as well - not heaps but still some. Bugger! Ring the vet - it'll cost thick end of $200 for farm visit plus stuff plus blah blah blah.... I'm thinking I got her for nothing (UNLESS she survives) so didn't really want to fork out $200 on her - call me lousy.. it's ok... Next option - electrolyte scouring stuff - about $6 a sachet - let's do that. So I wizz into town and grab half a dozen...

That afternoon, Laverne AGAIN sucked the guts out of the 2L bottle of Lectrade (electrolyte stuff) no probs at all - maybe it doesn't taste so bad?? I kept her on that stuff again the following day (Day 5) and she picked up really well. Scouring stopped - walking improved outasight with very little fist/wrist stumbling happening. Seemed we were back on track!

Day 6 (Friday) I made the rash decision to not give her another day of Lectrade (as recommended on the pack) and bang her straight back onto Beaudette's best. Morning and night she hooks in and downs the 2 x 2L offerings. I even let her wander about the yard and have a snooze out in the grass laying in the sun - that would have to be good for her woudn't it??

Next morning (Day 7 yesterday) scouring again! Bugger! AND her back passenger side leg is stiff... AND she seems a bit lethargic... Brett and I both agree it's a bit odd, so agree too much milk far too soon - back to the Lectrade - shoulda kept her off the milk a bit longer...... Well you know what they say, if in doubt, follow the instructions............

Anyway - she drank her 2L of Lectrade no probs, then hobbled back to bed in her donga...

"IF she survives....." Hmnmnmn...

Almost there...... Stay with me..

Yesterday morning after feeding the animals, the Brett and I go out and about (to buy more electrolyte stuff plus more CGI bargains for goat and chook dongas) - talking to these friends (who are VERY experienced with cows and calves and all things FARM) and when we tell them about Laverne seeming lethargic and crook bag leg that morning, it was suggested it could be a scrub tick? Nahhhhhhhh............. Not the right weather or season... But still???

So - we get home and Laverne is still breathing, Brrrrrrrrrrrr..........ing and snoozing in her donga - she seems fine so we leave her.

Jobs to be done - cups of tea to be drunk - food to be eaten - plans to be made - blah blah blah - the day rolls on. Comes to afternoon feed time - make up another 2L of the Lectrade stuff, and the Brett and I go to feed Laverne.

Oh dear!  Laverne isn't looking well at all. EXTREMELY lethargic - can't get up by herself at all. The Brett and I help her to her feet, both back legs in a bad way... Try and shove the bottle in her mouth and she won't suck. At all. Not even a little bit. Try the fingers in the mouth routine, and no suck there either. Bugger! Not looking good!

Brett suggests MAYBE it is a tick? Like when our cats had paralysis ticks - went in the back legs, trouble walking and breathing.... Oh bugger bugger bugger.... What to do?

We drag/carry/assist her outside into better light - Brett starts feeling all over her searching for a tick. I go to grab the pour on Noromectin... Moments later Brett announces he found THE tick - big b@stard engorged thing size of your small fingernail - full of Laverne's blood - it was on her chest/brisket - bottom of her dewlap (flappy part) - both agreeing we shouldn't pull it off as the head might get stuck in her skin - so I squirted a bit of pour on straight ON the b@stard tick - as well as pouring about 20ml along her backline - thinking if there were any others they'd get a gutful of that stuff once her body absorbed if - "IF she survives......"

Moments later, the tick had fallen off, and the Brett took great delight squeezing the guts (Laverne's blood) out of the little t&rd. We had a look for more ticks, but agreed/decided that if there were any more, the pour on would take care of them...

So - even though she couldn't drink, we knew that she had a 2L guzzle of the electrolyte stuff that morning, AND she had survived her first 2 days with PROBABLY no food, we reckoned she'd be ok overnight without a feed - provided of course the poison from the tick didn't kill her...

"IF she survived...." We would see in the morning...

This morning, the Brett and I both go to see how/if Laverne had survived the night! Made up the 2L bottle of Lectrade stuff and up the hill we trudged.

Well, we get to the opening of her pen and she's laying prone on her left side, eye rolling backwards and both front and back legs straight out and stiff but trying to move them. But - she was Brrrrrrrrrrrr..........ing - albeit not so well.

Oh Hell! I'm thinking that tick really did the damage and it was too late. Thoughts running through my mind like calling the neighbour to bring his rifle over and put her out of her misery. Poor Laverne.... Bugger. Bugger. Bugger.. Poor Laverne. Bugger. Bugger...

Brett and I tried to get her up but all legs stiff and her neck was stretched out and stiff and she had no control over that either. I bent her front legs (and one made a noise along the lines of SNAP and I thought Sh!t, now I've broken her leg) then pulled her back end up while Brett pulled her front up. We held her up while getting her feet legs sorted out underneath (legs under the corners of the table - I'm thinking Yeah, like toggies! ) - then I'm rubbing her back legs and Brett's rubbing her neck and patting her face. Brett tries his finger in her mouth, and be buggered, she almost sucks Brett's hand, fist AND elbow into her mouth! Sheesh! Now THAT has to be a good sign - she can suck!

So - grab the bottle of Lectrade - jamm it in her gobbler - and in no time flat she's guzzled that! She's such a good girl!!!!!

By the time she'd finished her bottle, we'd gradually given her less support and she was standing on her pat malone! How sweet it is! It seems that perhaps her really bad stiffness was due to laying in the one position all night along with the tick poison flowing through her system. How happy the Brett and I were/are that she made it through the night!!

We then think to see if she'll try and walk and follow the Brett. He takes a few steps back, and Laverne follows! Back passenger leg NOT being dragged like yesterday! He takes a few more steps. She follows still! Brett walks up the hill into the sun and she follows him up! She seems much better!

Oh! It's incredible!

Both Brett and I believe she's a very strong fighter and she's determined not to die for quite some time, and how incredible it is we've been given a chance and opportunity and gift such as Laverne!

I will not apologise for what some may deem to be a long drawn out 6-part drama of Laverne's first week. But sheesh - when you consider what she's been though in the first week of her life, she should have died several times over, but NO - she refuses!

Life IS good, and how sweet it is!

 Sunday night - Day 8 for Laverne
Thank you all for your kind words - we really appreciate your moral support. I am quite certain Laverne can feel your pats and cuddles as well! :)

I intentionally waited a few days before posting any of Laverne's events - significant or otherwise - as I wanted to make sure she was ok - but it seems each day has thrown a new hurdle or problem or dilemma for her. Someone once said, "These things are sent to try us.." Well EGADS! - Laverne has most certainly been tried! Then it seemed to me that perhaps I might put Laverne's story out there, while she is still trying so hard AND successfully to survive, and challenge us each day with another set of questions and possibilities... because it may well be that the dairyfarmer was right - "IF she survives..." may well be the key.. We will see.

So - tonight, like last night, Laverne is very weak and not terribly interested in the bottle of Lectrade stuff. She took a couple of half hearted sucks, and then nothing. We had to stand her up, but she leant against us as she made a feeble attempt to drink. She seems simply exhausted. Just hope like hell she's still breathing in the morning.

But let's keep things in perspective - she was looking not so good about this time last night, and this morning after a good night's sleep did so well with her first bottle for the day. I'm off to work tomorrow (but only for a short time) so will be keen to get home to check up on her.

I must tell you I felt very guilty and worried this morning. As you can tell by the timing of the first couple of posts to this thread, I spent some time telling you the Laverne story thus far. After Chapter 6, I went out to check on her - she'd been left sleeping in the longer grass in the sun. Got to the back door and heard crows! SEVERAL crows... I thought "Ah Sh!t - I'd just taken all that time to put Laverne's story out there, and in the meantime the friggin crows had got her!"

There was Laverne laying prone on the grass.. First thoughts were the friggin crows had got her eyes.... Raced up there but no, eyes were ok.. Ppphew! Thank Heavens for that! Dragged her back up to her feet, then literally dragged her back to the donga - she was offering very little help, and just too heavy to pick up. Brett was out for the day so no help to be had. Anyway - back to the donga she be - helped her lay down and curl up keeping her up on her sternum, and not laying flat. She was still breathing fine, but just seemed so tired - so damned tired.... ( I don't blame the poor girl - such a whirlwind of trauma she'd been through in her short life so far)....

It was a bit weird this afternoon - I checked on her every hour or so to make sure she was still breathing and upright - which she was. It reminded me of when our kids/children were brand new babies and would sleep through the night - you'd get up to check on them to MAKE SURE they were still breathing. Remember that?? Surely I am not the only one that did that??

So tonight before the Brett and I head to the land of nod, we'll waddle up the hill in the dark and the cold to check to make sure Laverne is still doing what Laverne does best - BREATHING - and sleeping. :)

Watch this space for the next update... whichever way it goes.. :)
and thanks again! Really...

 Monday 23 Jul - Quick update:

Not looking good this morning. Laverne is having trouble standing and sucking so it appears only a matter of time. We will know more when Heather gets home from work this afternoon

 Tuesday 24 Jul – Quick Update

Laverne (surprisingly) was still breathing when both Heather and I got home yesterday afternoon as we weren't expecting her to survive the day. She couldn't stand by herself and was very very very weak. We gave her some electrolyte solution which I had to squeeze down her throat but she swallowed by herself without gagging.

This morning when I left for work at 0430 she was still breathing and in the same position as we left her last night. Her breathing was strong and she looked more "relaxed" than she has so she maybe getting a little stronger (but i don't want to get my hopes up).

I am sure Heather will give you an update after this mornings goat/cow/chook - milking/feed run (although milking the chooks takes some effort )

If nothing else we have been blessed with a determined calf who just doesn't (at the moment) want to leave us and the learnings we are taking from this are enormous.

Afternoon 24 Jul 12 - Laverne - Chapter whatever we're up to...

Well, as the Brett has tipped, clearly Laverne isn't ready to give up just yet. Incredibly she is STILL alive and continuing to defy the odds.  It's been 2 days now when each time we go to her donga, we're checking to see if she's still alive - and yes, still she is. I am quite certain that the bookies have had her written off or at very long odds for the last week, with the odds lengthening ever hour. But let me give you the LATE MAIL - Laverne is still breathing, snoring, swallowing, flinching, sweating, weeing, dribbling and most importantly, BEING. :)

Unfortunately I cannot report that there is any Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............ing, standing, stumbling, sucking, playing cards, walking or running.

I reckon it's a combination of little or perhaps no colostrum or drinking in those first 2 days of her life, the trauma of being pulled with a quad bike, the shock to her guts/system of scours and then the trump card of paralysis tick. Realistically - she should have been dead a week ago, or another several times in between!

Being practical and pragmatic - we should just put her down - I am well aware of that.

Also - yes, we should have called the vet when we found the tick on her. Also - yes, I should never have agreed to take her at 2 days old when I knew she'd only just been picked up from the paddock and had had a trauma birth. Also - yes, we should have called the vet when the blood appeared in her scours. But hey - we didn't.

So in spite of our seemingly unwise decision making - Laverne is quite happily (ok, unknowingly & feebly) thumbing her nose at all the nay-sayers, AND bookies who continue to lose large amounts of cash due to her continuing fight to survive.

It seems to me that you're a long time dead, and Laverne is leading by example and making the most of while she's here!

So, Good Onya Laverne!

Laverne - Her Final Chapter.
Continuing with the racing analogy .... Stewards called correct weight this afternoon at about 4.30. All bets can now be paid.