The Harsh Realities of Farming: A Challenging Calving and C-Section

Farming certainly isn't always straightforward. As promised, I share the reality of being a farmer and the soul destroying moments along the way.

Tuesday morning started like any other - checking the cow camera, like the rest of the night every hour or so, before heading out for the day. But this time, something didn’t look right. A single calf leg, about six inches out, was visible from a cow I had expected to calve soon. Alarm bells rang immediately.

I called my father to check if he’d seen the same thing earlier, but he hadn’t. In fact, he’d only looked at the camera 20 minutes prior, and there had been nothing unusual. Without hesitation, I shot off to the farm. By the time I arrived, the cow stood there eating as if nothing had happened - no calf leg in sight.

The Initial Struggle

I attempted to assist the cow in calving, but something was off. There was way in, and I questioned what I had seen on the camera earlier. It felt like a twisted calf bed or even ringwomb - a condition where the cervix fails to dilate. Either way, the cow was going to need help.

At this point, the cow still showed no distress or active signs of labour. She was calm. If I hadn’t seen that brief glimpse of the calf leg on the camera, I might never have intervened. That single piece of technology quite literally saved lives. The leg had been visible for just 10 minutes. Without it, we’d have assumed she wasn’t ready yet, and we would have lost everything.

Realising the difficulty, I called the vet. A skill for any farming, knowing when is the appropriate time to ask for assistance. When she arrived, she confirmed what I had already discovered - there was no way to deliver this calf naturally. We had two choices: attempt to encourage labour throughout the day or proceed with a C-section.

This was a very bizarre situation, that I've never encountered or heard others encounter to date.

Making the Tough Call

Given my experience with this cow and the size of the leg I’d seen, I made the call - a C-section was the safest option. Something told me there were two calves inside, and given how stuck they were, I feared the worst. I suspected at least one, if not both, would already be dead. The call on the c-section was to ensure the cows welfare and aim for saving as much live as possible in this situation.

The cow still wasn’t distressed, which made me hopeful that she wasn’t in pain, but also concerned that her body wasn’t responding the way it should. The safest route for all involved was the c-section option.

The caesarean went well - for the most part. The cow kicked out at one point, causing a tear in her uterus, but despite this, we managed to pull out the first calf - alive! A miracle in itself! Then, even more incredibly, the vet found a second live calf. Against all odds, both were alive.

I was over the moon with what we had achieved at this point, and I was very grateful to the wonderful farm vets from Westmorland Vets. Over the years, I've learnt so much from this veterinary team, that are truly, 'the farmers vet' putting agriculture at the heart of all they do! Talented vets have allowed me to make better decisions, produce better, and become more educated.

A Heartbreaking End

I immediately shifted focus to getting the calves warm and responsive while the vet finished the surgery. But just as we were breathing a sigh of relief, things took a turn. The cow, having endured so much, didn’t make it. We had saved the calves, but lost their mother.

Now, we are left with two orphaned newborns who needed immediate care. Calves born via C-section often struggle - they miss out on the natural pressure of the birth canal, which triggers their arrival to the world and instincts. They can be sluggish, unmotivated to suckle, and slow to get up and move. It’s a battle from the very beginning occassionally

The Reality of Farming

Right now, these calves are improving hour by hour, but it’s a slow, painstaking process. We are currently progressing, doing everything possible to rear them strong and healthy.

Farming moments like this are soul-destroying. You make all the right decisions, do everything in your power, and still, sometimes, it just doesn’t go your way.

After years in farming, you become hardened to the losses. You have to. There’s no time to dwell. You focus on what remains, on the positives, and keep moving forward.

Unfortunate, nevertheless somewhat a success

The reality is, thanks to modern technology, switched on thinking, quality vets and years of experience, we saved something from nature taking its course. We certainly would have lost a lot more, it we hadn't pulled, technology, understanding and knowledge together on this situation.

Blood Sweat and Tears

So, next time you sit down to a meal provided by a British farmer - or any farmer - take a moment to appreciate the blood, sweat, and yes, sometimes, the tears that go into producing that food. Farmers put everything on the line to feed the nation, and moments like these are a stark reminder of just how much is sacrificed along the way.

24 hours later...

24 hours after the twins were brought into the world, we have one what's bold and drinking wonderfully and another a lot slower. Nevertheless, I will continue to work endlessly, in the hope we make it through the most challenging start for these two.

I shall keep you all up to date with the success or sadness as this story continues... Please keep everything crossed for us!