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Pep had been pregnant for 375-days. She was so uncomfortable. After 7 days of temperatures in high 80's to 90's...I felt for her as she lazed around in front of the fan. After I returned last evening from a day on the road, Pep started labor.
After 10 cria being born on this farm, since the beginning of our farming career, I had never viewed a labor like this. As Pep was so late term, I of course was a little more sensitive to her behavior. Last week I had spoken with my vet to discuss her later term pregnancy, to see what, if anything I should be watching for that would indicate distress. The one thing everyone kept telling me was to watch for a torsion. This is when the uterus flips, essentially twisting things up, requiring we untwist so the baby can be born. The behavior typically associated with this includes a very uncomfortable dam, often up then down, maybe some rolling, pushing without any produceable results.
When I got home from my road trip my first stop was the barn. I found Pep lying on her side in front of the fan, not cushed in her normal position. She wasn't pushing or making and noise. I went inside, got out of my city clothes and prepared dinner. Farmer Steve and I ate dinner on the porch so we could keep an eye on Pep's behavior. Within 20-minutes, Pep had gone to the "pile" three times. Each time not really pushing, easily producing poo or pee. Then she would wander to the hay feeder, put her head in, moan, drop to the ground and roll from one side to the other. She would lie on her side, groaning, not really pushing. Of course I became a little concerned. Could this be the dreaded torsion?
We continued to observe Pep for another 20 minutes, still the same behavior, only she had begun to push with no results. She was quite dialated, and groaning. I called my vet, who said it did not sound good. I asked her to come right over...Within 5 minutes of that call I noticed the amniotic sac appear, then finally break, and a nose appear. I called my vet, asked her to not come and that things were finally presenting normally.
Pep had this entire labor while lying on her side. I have seen dams have portions of their labor cushed, most of the time standing up, but never like this. Of course, Farmer Steve thought I was over-reacting, I know I was aware of all the right things. Had she had a torsion, we needed to have the vet there ASAP, not after we fully determined the torsion. It takes our vet a minimum of 20-minutes to get here. Pep was struggling so much, I know it was her first, but later term pregnancies can have a few complications.
Good news! It is a healthy baby boy. An ElToro, K-2 boy. My hopes is he turns out to be an amazing stud male. He has some potential with those genetics in his lineage. Oh, and no color, well almost no color. He is an apricot, like his mother - Pep, ElToro his grandsire, and the same color as all his aunties of the same lineage.
Me picking off some of the amniotic sac.
Farmer Steve and new cria on the first official weigh-in. Mom Pep not too far.
He looks all peachey, almost orange creamsicle colored.
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