THE BARNYARD BABIES BIRTHING CENTER

The Barnyard Babies Birthing Center Fairvue Farms is a sponsor of "The Barnyard Babies Birthing Center" which debuted at the 147th Woodstock Fair in 2007, and has been a major attraction at the Fair ever since. The Farmer's Cow also co-sponsored the project. The booth is staffed 24 hours a day by experienced farm personnel, and Tuft's University Veterinary clinic personnel are also available. With fertility management techniques, we can anticipate a couple of live births each day, but the exact timing is up to the mother. After birth, mucous is removed from the mouth and nasal passages, the calves are vaccinated as needed, their navel (where the umbilical cord was attached) is sterilized, and they are fed colostrum from a bottle. Afterwards all the cows go home to Fairvue Farms. The calvings are professionally filmed, and are shown on 55 inch monitors at the fairgrounds. Videos of other births (sheep, mares, etc.) are also shown on monitors. 2010: Nine calves were born. 2009: More calves were born. 2008: One calf, Franky, was born on Friday evening at 10:22 p.m. Another Fairvue Farms cow calved shortly after arriving home at Fairvue Farms on Monday night. 2007: The Miller's provided pregnant cows for the 2007 fair. One calved at 3:30 a.m. on September 1, one at 8:05 a.m. on September 2, one on 2 p.m. on September 3, and another at 3:30 p.m. See interesting facts about Holstein calves.

Baby calf five minutes after being born at the Woodstock Fair. Click here to zoom. By PhotosbyFoosa.

A drawing showing the normal position of a calf ready to be born. (Source: Queensland Government, Dept. of Primary Industries and Fisheries)