Friday: A steady flow of visitors

Friday had a steady flow of visitors to the Center.

One popular spots all day were the chicks.

A volunteer at the Miracle of Birth Center holds a chick for visitors to see.

Incubators have been in the Miracle of Birth Center so people can watch as they break out of their eggs.

Visitors watch the eggs in the incubator.

It takes about one to four hours for a chick to break out of its shell. It then stays in the incubator for about 24 hours to dry off before it is taken out.

Visitors pet a chick while a volunteer holds it.

Visitors to the Miracle of Birth Center were also able to take in a calf being born. At noon, a bull calf was born. After people texted in, the most popular vote for the calf was Butch.

The bull (boy) calf, Butch, resting at the Miracle of Birth Center.

Thursday: A surprise at the end

After a big day of births on Wednesday, Thursday was calm and relaxed. Many people came to visit the pigs that had been born the day before.

Myrna Welter holds a piglet for a visitor to pet. 

Although the sheep are not giving birth during the fair because they lamb in the spring, we have lambs at the Birth Center for people to watch.

Lambs at the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center. 

There is also an educational display showing how wool is used.

Just before closing, the cow decided she would have her calf. It was a girl! From the text messages, the name was decided as Callie. Both the cow and the calf were healthy and went home that night.

Wednesday: Mother Nature made her own schedule

Mother Nature decided to run her own course on Wednesday. It was a busy day for the animals at the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center. The births started early in the morning at 1 a.m. with a sow who had 14 piglets. During the evening we have someone on staff to watch over the animals and assist the births if necessary.

Piglets shortly after they were born.

The next sow decided to start farrowing (giving birth) at about 7 a.m. This sow delivered 19 piglets.

Piglets drinking from their mother.

While the pig was giving birth, the cow also went into labor at about 8 a.m. With all the morning action, the Miracle of Birth Center staff tried to get the gates to the Center open as soon as they were able. By 10 a.m., the third sow decided it would also give birth to 11 piglets.

More piglets.

At 2 p.m., the calf name was revealed. Through text messages, the most popular name was Daisy. She and her mother were transported home to Gar-Lin Dairy Farms later that evening.

By 3 p.m., the next cow looked like she was next. But it turned out to be a false alarm. She decided not to have her baby yet.

A crowd watches as the veterinarians on staff checked the cow. 

However, the fourth and final sow didn't want to feel left out. At about 4:30 p.m., the last sow gave birth to 13 piglets.

More piglets after they were born earlier that day.

Although we would have liked to space out the births and had them all during the hours we were open, Mother Nature had a different idea.

Throughout the day, visitors were able to visit with Princess Kay of the Milky, Mary Zauhrones, and Goodhue and Olmsted County dairy princesses.

Princess Kay poses for a picture with Miracle of Birth Center visitor, Leah Sheehan.

Princess Kay reads a book to visitors to the Miracle of Birth Center during story time.

The first newborn calf of the fair!

The AgStar Miracle of Birth Center is open and people are coming to visit! We started off the morning with a newborn calf at 6:30. He is a bull (boy) calf whose name is Charlie! Come out to the fair to visit him!

A bull calf, Charlie, was born this morning at 6:30. 

Charlie got his name from people who are a part of the mobile club and texted in their choice. To be a part of this process and receive texts before and after animals give birth, text the word "birth" to 82942.

The afternoon kicked off with the second annual celebrity milking contest. Mayor Ardell Brede started off the competition.

Mayor Ardell Brede milking the artificial cow, Milkshake, in the 2012 celebrity milking contest. 

County Commissioner Ken Brown was the second person in the celebrity milking contest.

County Commissioner Ken Brown takes his turn to milk Milkshake during the 2012 celebrity milking contest.

After the "milk" was measured, Commissioner Brown won the contest! To try Try milking Milkshake for yourself! Come down to the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center in building 43 next to the dairy barn and across from the horse barn. 

The measuring of the "milk."

Jeannette Sheehan, AgStar Miracle of Birth Center planning committee member, stands with County Commissioner and winner of the 2012 celebrity milking contest, Ken Brown.

The two friendly rivals.

Ken Brown with Milkshake.

It's here!

The Olmsted County Fair has started and the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center is open today! Stop by between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to see the animals. Maybe you'll even be able to catch a birth!

If you come out to the fair around 1:30 p.m., we will be having a special milking contest between Mayor Ardell Brede and County Commissioner Ken Brown. Come cheer on our special guests who will be milking, Milkshake.

Dawn Zollman helps Kia milk the Birth Center's artificial cow,
Milkshake, during the 2011 AgStar Miracle of Birth Center. 

One cow decided to give birth this morning. Although we would have liked for her to wait until we were open today, we can't help Mother Nature! The cow had a bull (boy) calf. He'll be ready for visitors when the Center opens and will be named later today!

Check back often for updates about births and events at the Birth Center! You can also find information on our Facebook page. Search AgStar Miracle of Birth Center or go to www.facebook.com/Miracle.Birth.Center

See you at the fair!

Let the fun begin!

Yesterday was a very exciting day and busy day! Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Katie Miron, was able to join us for the day she helped kids learn how to milk a cow and read a story about how milk become the cheese on our pizzas. It was great to have her here interacting with the kids and teaching them things about the dairy industry.

Princess Kay assisted a child milking "Milkshake."

The dairy industry was in full swing yesterday. Not only did Princess Kay join us, but one of our cows calved last night. At 9 P.M we welcomed a healthy baby boy to the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center. We will be naming him tonight at his feeding at 5 P.M., so if you want to help us name him please be here by 5.

Not only did we have a cow calve, we had chicks and ducks hatching. Our first duck hatched yesterday morning as well. There were many visitors that enjoyed holding chicks, petting calves and lambs, and learning more about agriculture.

So please come on out today to view a sow giving birth, meet Princess Kay of the Milky Way, and take pictures with the baby animals!

Gar-Lin Dairy: The people behind the cows!

It is less than a week away from the opening of the miracle of birth center and everything is coming together nicely. At the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center we will be having four cows giving birth. The cows are going to be coming from Gar-Lin Dairy and we are going to take this time to get to know them better.

Gar-Lin Dairy Farms started with Gary and Linda Allen in 1975 when they purchased the dairy and 40 cows from Gary’s parents. Over time, the farm expanded both in cow numbers and people to include son, Dean, and daughter, Dana. In 2006, the Allens partnered with another dairy family and over the last few years have expanded the herd to include 1,850 cows and farm 3,100 acres of alfalfa, corn, canning peas and rye grass. Currently, Gar-Lin Dairy’s management team includes Gary and Linda Allen, Dean Allen, Dr. Dana Allen and Carey Tweten.

The management team at Gar-Lin Dairy (from left to right) Carey Tweten, Dr. Dana, Gary, Linda and Dean.

At Gal-Lin Dairy they milk 1,650 cows three times a day. On average each of their cows produce 31,460 pounds of milk a year. That is approximately 3,700 gallons of milk! Every day on the farm they have an average of six cows giving birth. You will be able to see some of Gar-Lin Dairy's cows at the miracle of birth center starting July 26!

We are very thankful to Gar-Lin Dairy for their support of the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center!


The answer to the last blog was: Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day! That is a lot of cheese!

Question for the next blog: What is the schedule of events for the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center?

Check back tomorrow to find out what is happening everyday at the Miracle of Birth Center!

The miracle of birth

It is difficult not to smile at a baby animal because they are so cute and innocent. The miracle of birth is an amazing thing to witness. To see an animal come into this world and watch it as it takes its first step is something that one never forgets. Its now July, which means you have less than a month until you will be able to witness piglets and calves being born and chicks hatching. Here are some fun facts about each of the animals you will be able to see!

A mother pig is known as a sow and a father pig is called a boar. It will take a sow three months, three weeks, and three days to have a litter of piglets (baby pigs). In each litter there are approximately eight to 12 piglets. A sow has about two litters of piglets a year. At birth, a piglet weighs about three pounds and will double its weight in about seven days. 

A baby cow is known as a calf. Its mother is known as a cow and the dad is a bull. It takes a cow about 9.5 months for a cow to have a calf. A calf weighs about 85 pounds at birth and can walk in less than an hour after it is born! Once full grown, a cow will weigh about 1,500 pounds, which is equal to 16 fourth graders.

A mother chicken is known as a hen and a father is a rooster. A baby chicken is known as a chick. A hen can start laying eggs when she is just 19 weeks old. It takes about 24 hours for a hen to lay and egg and they can lay up to 265 eggs a year. 

Get excited to experience the miracle and see these cute baby animals in person!

The answer to the last question: it takes up to eight years of college to become a veterinarian. 

Check out the next blog to find out the answer to this question:

How many times does a chickens heart beat in a minute?