A miracle

This morning when I went out to do my 5am check all the girls were still sat down but I thought that Princess Mallika wasn't looking very happy, after watching her for about half an hour I headed back in to get dressed and have a cup of tea.

I accidentally (and if you believe that you'll believe anything) woke Paul by singing, well trying to sing and I said to him that I thought maybe Mallika was thinking about birthing as she wasn't very happy.

Mallika is one of those girls who looks pregnant all the time, but when we went out on the feed rounds and Mallika got up I thought she looked like she'd lost something and was looking at all the cria.

Panic set in, there was no sign of a cria, her back end didn't look like she'd just birthed so I feared she'd done it yesterday whilst we were out and they were out.  Paul checked the girls field whilst I ran to where the girls had been on our return.  As I said last night the girls had 25 acres to wonder in, 25 acres of 2 or 3 foot high grass! 

Mallika was pacing at the gate so I ran back to let her out, I hoped that if she had birthed she'd remember where.  She ran off humming down past the chickens and up the other side to near Wesley's (Blackie Tup) fence line.  I was trying to keep up but running in long grass in your wellies isn't the easiest.

No sign of cria, afterbirth or anything.  Mallika was now getting very vocal and running round hunting, for what I was sure was going to be a dead cria.  Paul went to get the quad as he'd get a better view whilst I walked up and down trying not to think the worst.

After over an hour of searching Paul yelled "quick" I hoped that quick meant it was alive but I didn't hold out much hope.  Mallika was still busy carrying out her own search and wasn't listening to Paul! 

When I got there, stood, yes stood, in front of the quad was a lovely dark fawn cria!  She couldn't have been further up the particular field than she was, Paul said she was kushed when he got to her.  I scooped her up and yelled Mallika who came running, we met half way and the reception was fantastic.

This poor little girl, yes a girl, seems none the worse for over 12 hours separation from mum, but as you can imagine both me and her mum are keeping a very close eye on her, she isn't allowed more than a few inches from mum now; Mallika won't be making that mistake again. 

Born at 324 days, over a month earlier than Mallika's daughter from last year she weighs a healthy 7.68kg.  Sorry but the photo's I took on my phone still haven't reached my email so I can't share them.

I can hear you asking why didn't we notice, well last night Mallika was with the rest of the herd and happily went back with the rest of the herd for her tea in their field last night, never once did she hang back or look back.  As soon as the girls had eaten their tea having obviously spent the day stuffing their necks on the grass Paul said everyone one of them sat straight down to chew the cud.