Tori screamed out a moo as the pain rippled through her stomach. She was held in place by a load around her head, but her body was relatively free. She stomped her hooves and tried to get a deep breath in preparations for more pain.
The other females stood by and watched, giving their support. Tori had watched Mena go through the process a few weeks ago and had worried about her own calf. Now that the delivery time was upon her she was more concerned about the pain than the calf.
Another contraction washed over Tori and she heard someone come into her stall. A hand on her rump was reassuring.
"It's ok, heifer. You are doing well. Push for me." a voice comforted her. Tori bore down on her stomach, trying to comply with her directions.
Three hours later a cry broke the silence of the barn. It was that of a healthy baby boy. Tori mooed in response and heard noise telling her the calf was being taken away. Once the calf was removed and the rest of the females chased off, Tori was released.
She was shaky on her feet, worn out from the exertion of child birth. For a moment she thought about the calf she had just had, wanting to see it, but knew that her handler had whisked him away just as they had Mena's. They would not allow her to keep her calf.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Isiah met her and led her back to her stall. Once there he took out some lotion and pumped some onto his hands and started massaging her sore muscles.
"You did fabulously, Tori. I am so proud of you." Isiah continued speaking as his hands ran over the heifer's legs. "And what you don't know, some of the best is to come." Tori looked up, feeling relaxed from the attention her handler was giving her. "Oh yes. Now that you have had a calf, you can be milked."
Tori looked up, confused and then down to her hanging breasts. She mooed in confusion.