Ebert Farms Newsletter
October 27, 2006
We made it through the snowstorm today. Fortunately, we prepared yesterday and were able to spend most of the day indoors. The calves are so cute romping around in the snow like children.
Many of you have been asking about turkeys. Linneburr's did raise turkeys again this summer. They were raised free of antibiotics and hormones. Their diet included some organic and some in-organic feed. They were raised in plenty of outdoor space allowing them access to lots of sunlight and bugs. They range in size from 25 – 35 pounds and are prices at $2.00 per pound. Send us an e-mail if you would like to reserve one.
Our confidence as farmers is challenged sometimes as nature's hand works against us. When sickness takes a baby animal or predators attack a chicken, it is difficult not to point the finger at ourselves and feel defeated. Today nature was kind and we were able to regain some confidence.
Two weeks ago Kres went out to gather the girls for the morning milking. Twyla refused to get up. He was certain something was wrong with her leg and we decided to give her a day or two and then go borrow a sling from a neighbor. A sling fits around the body of the animal and you can strap it to a loader on the tractor. You lift the cow and allow it some circulation and the opportunity to work on standing
The next morning Kres again went out to milk and soon after was yelling for me to get out of bed. Twyla had developed a condition farmers refer to as bloat. This is when the rumen (one of the cows four stomachs) does not work properly to digest food and fills with gas very quickly. Cathy and I grabbed a plastic tube and began inserting it through Twyla's mouth and throat to her rumen. This is supposed to release the gas. Unfortunately, it only released a very small amount of gas and Twyla was quickly blowing up like a ballon.
Cathy and I grabbed Kres and Kasey to try to move the cow, aiding in dispersing the gas. This also failed.
Then Kres remembered, as a last resort, his Grandpa used to take a knife to puncture a hole in the rumen. He called the vet to find out the proper way to do this and the vet suggested large IV needles.
Angie now joined us and the five of us poked Twyla with multiple needles. The air wheezed out and amazingly she returned to a normal size. I really think we had been minutes from losing her. She had so much gas in her body it was making her breathing very labored.
This procedure bought us some time and we were able to go get some anti-foam medicine from the vet. By the end of the day Twyla seemed back to her old self, except that she still could not get up.
Over the last two weeks we have watched as she went from only laying, to standing on her back legs and her knees, to standing on three legs. Finally today, Twyla walked on all four legs up a hill and across the pature to a spot with better shelter from the storm.
These farmers all have that high on life feeling today!
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