WOODBURY- Friday, May 9th, the school’s beloved cow, Delphinium, gave birth to her first baby. Delphinium was born on the school’s grounds in May of 2023, from the “Hope Lineage.”

Over the summer, Delphinium was bred through artificial insemination (AI) and has been pregnant all school year.

The bull calf, Worcestershire, was born healthy, with a positive birthing process. Kathleen Gorman, the livestock management teacher, explained that, with most first-time mothers in the livestock industry, they may need a bit of support. “It went normal for a first time heifer. She was a first timer so she needed a little bit of assistance,” Gorman stated.

Nonnewaug junior and student worker for the agriscience department, Kenzie Scully, helped in the birthing process. 

“I was told to halter Delphinium and get items to help Ms. Gorman when the calf got stuck,” Scully explained. 

The bull got momentarily stuck, so Gorman and Marisa Bedron, the horse management teacher, helped to get the baby out.

“We ultimately made the decision to step in because his head was right at the edge and we saw his tongue was turning blue, indicating that he was losing oxygen,” Gorman explained. “It was a normal first time mom, needing just a tiny bit of help.” 

So what happens to bull calves on Nonnewaug grounds?

“Bulls stay with mom until weaning,” said Gorman. “The males are marketed as soon as they are born and we let the prospective owner decide if they will be bulls or steers; nine times out of ten, they become steers.” 

The calf is now two weeks old and is beginning to get halter trained. 

“Delphinium is doing great as a mom,” Scully stated. “Her udder is full and she has great mothering traits.”