The Barnyard Babies Birthing Center

Baby calf born at the Woodstock Fair.

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

Fairvue Farms is a sponsor of "The Calving Barn" which debuted at the 147th Woodstock Fair in 2007. 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.

Woodstock Academy films the calvings which are shown on 55 inch monitors placed around the fairground. Videos of other births (sheep, mares, etc.) were also shown on monitors.

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.

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.