Human intervention

This cow had been calving for quite some time and wasn't getting on with it so my husband had to give a hand to get the calf out.If we had ignored it the calf would have died. The instrument you see is called a calf jack. Ropes are put on both legs of the calf and the other end attached to a ratchet on the jack. When the cow pains pressure is put on the ropes using the ratchet, pulling the calf out. It sounds a bit savage but I suppose it is the same as using forceps in the human world.

[Diane]

Wow! Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[jo]

Amazing shot, hope mother and calf are doing well.

[Debbie]

Ouch.. glad mum and calf are doing well

[Maggiemae]

The moment of birth - hope they were both all OK!

[Gayle]

Wow! Very interesting shot and explanation! Amazing! Hope they are both doing well.

[Pyrrhula]

Stunting. Great shot. Fav.

[Louise]

A great capture of life on the farm!

[Kitty Hawke]

Dear of them, hope all is well with them both......I bet the mum was pleased to get it all over with really. Great shot. FAV

[sally agnew]

Hope all is well post birth. Interesting image showing the dramas of farming :)

[julia]

Interesting .. Sometimes the farmers just have to intervene.. once I had to be the assistant with a C section... Is this a Vink Calving Jack? I think they come from NZ.. great shot for the low light..

[bkb in the city]

Trust it all worked out well. Neat shot

[Cally]

Fantastic shot and interesting story.

[Pam Knowler]

So interesting!! Hope mother and calf are now doing well!!

[Bep]

Great shot. Very interesting.

[Babs]

Ouch, hope they are both doing well.

[Kerri Michaels]

wow.. too sexy.. fav

[Lee]

Powerful shot.

[Tony]

Brings back old memories. Only had to do it once. Great action shot.

[leggzy]

What a beautiful capture! I do hope mum & calf are ok :)

[Sarah Munnings]

Wow, what an amazing shot. Congratulations on PP

[Harbie]

That is truly amazing! Wonderful capture and explanation!

[Tom]

Fantastic

[Peter Grave]

Memories from long ago Shirley!!!

[Paula]

Wow, what a beautiful capture! Hope they are both ok!

[Anja]

Great capture! Hope the calf and its mother are doing well.

[The Intermittent Photographer aka Blue Rose]

Oh err Reminds me of all creatures great and small

[LaLa]

Very interesting - have never seen this before but I have delivered 4 babies myself (one was 10 lbs. (all natural)). So I feel her pain - I'm sure she was glad for the help.

[Julienne Jones]

Wow what a wonderful moment to capture

[Diane]

Oh wow, I hope the mother and calf are doing ok, thanks for sharing.

[Peter Dulis]

wow ...

[Milanie]

Not being a farm girl, I had read but never seen this before - quite interesting. Good clear shot.

[Barb Newcomb]

This is so graphic, but a great shot that sure tells a story.

[ShirleyB]

@dianen @jokristina @deborah63 @maggiemae @gaylewood @pyrrhula @roachling @cutekitty @hermann @julzmaioro @bkbinthecity @callymazoo @pamknowler @gijsje @onewing @moviegal1 @gamelee @tonydebont @leggzy @pixiemac @harbie @tosee @peterlgrave @paulavdmerwe @stiggle @bluerose15 @LaLa @julienne1 @dianeburns @pdulis @milaniet @beachdog Gosh I am overwhelmed by all the comments on this shot. Thank you to all of you for taking the time to do so.. I am sorry to say the calf did not survive. We had the vet out to see it the day after it was born because it wasn't at all well. and she couldn't find anything wrong with it. The next morning it was dead. As sad as this is I'm afraid it is part of farming and sometimes there is nothing you can do for the poor little things.

[Cally]

@shirleybankfarm I am sorry. There is a lot of care and pride with faming and it is sad when this happens after all the effort put into nurturing. Hope the Mum is ok.

[ShirleyB]

@callymazoo Thank you Cally Mum is doing is absolutely fine.

[Ann Williams]

Sad to hear calf died but, as you say, it's part of farming life. Super photo though.

[ShirleyB]

@flowerfairyann Thanks Ann, Nature can be wonderful but also very cruel.