Perk Farm brings a cow-birthing center to the fair

Perk Farm Organic Dairy arranged the exhibit so visitors could observe a calf being born. Remington Perkins, who owns the dairy, said the cows were bred in November and given estimated delivery dates. The farm plans its breeding schedule around the fair, aiming for births in the week before, during and after the event.

Perkins said a cow’s pregnancy lasts for nearly the same period as a human pregnancy. He said the farm had produced 21 calves during the year. At the time of the report, the fair had two days remaining, but none of the cows had yet given birth there.

Farmers cannot identify the precise moment of calving until a water bag appears, according to Perkins. Before that stage, a cow may show discomfort and repeatedly stand up and lie down. Once the water bag breaks, he said, delivery generally follows within about an hour.

The dairy has operated the fair’s birthing center for almost 20 years, although Perkins said he could not confirm the exact duration. He is a third-generation dairy farmer. He described visitors’ reactions as the animals progress through labor, including when a calf’s feet or head become visible and when the mother rises after delivery.

Perkins said West Virginia has fewer than 30 dairies, limiting opportunities for children to see dairy farming directly. He said the exhibit is intended to help visitors understand the source of milk and the work involved in producing it. Perkins recalled helping a child feed a calf after the child had said that milk came from Walmart. He invited visitors to ask questions and observe the animals during the rest of the fair.