Advisory: This is a farmer post! If you don't want to look at a cow's rear end, check back later. No blood, no gore, just up close and personal with Sara.
Sara had pellets for dinner, so I could get up close--as long as I stayed on the other side of the cattle panel. She's very smart! She knows that a cattle panel between us keeps me away.
This is the best shot I got of her udder.
Udderly uninspiring, I'm afraid!
I waited for her to swish a fly to get this shot.
So far the most encouraging sign is that her right side was definitely bulging out more than the udder. It was bulging out more than the other side, too. She was pretty straight on when I took this shot.
Here's a similar shot from a wider angle. The horn on the left shows that she was turning her head to the left a bit following her feed bowl, so that might have influenced how she bulged.
Her head turns a bit to the right here and she bulges more to the left. I still think the close-up (first straight rear shot) is encouraging.
If she doesn't calve tomorrow, Sara really will be behind, just like the old cow's tail. Meanwhile,we'll just do like the Army: "Hurry up and wait."
This is the best shot I got of her udder.
Udderly uninspiring, I'm afraid!
If she doesn't calve tomorrow, Sara really will be behind, just like the old cow's tail. Meanwhile,we'll just do like the Army: "Hurry up and wait."
Hi Susan!
ReplyDeleteThose top two photos are good enough for me! :) Her vulva will swell considerably more than that. And her udder isn't nearly full. Those wrinkles up the back of her udder will fill our completely before she's ready. If I remember correctly, Sara bags up fairly quick, usually just the last 2-3 weeks. So, I'm sorry to say, but I think you've got another week or two to wait yet. :(
Kim
Thank you so much for your input, Kim, especially since you know Sara! You are going to save me many trips to the barn--I don't need to go every 1 1/2 to 2 hours right now! :) I did finally sleep better Sat. night because while I see more springing than in these photos, the change was not significant. Again, thanks for the cues of what to watch for with Sara herself because most of the photos I've seen were of dairy cattle, not nice beefy Dexters! :) I still want to keep a close eye on her and keep getting photos because it helps me go back and see exactly how much she is or isn't progressing.
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