Ups and downs and a new cow
Apr 22, 2019 23:11:19 GMT -5
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Shawn, jerseyrose, and 11 more like this
Post by otter on Apr 22, 2019 23:11:19 GMT -5
Long saga ahead
Sooo glad winter is done (knock wood) the last couple of months were hellish here. In early February, DD and I realized at the same time little Sweetpea calf wasn't really growing. I flat invited Murphy by saying "Don't worry, at least she's healthy and the vet will be coming in 3 days and we'll ask her to examine Sweetpea too."
That night, Sweetpea, who had been happy and playful all day, didn't finish her bottle. The next day she coughed a bit, but ate, then got a fever and promptly got antibiotics that afternoon. The next morning she was gone. It was that fast.
It was devastating for us, and stress after stress followed it and I didn't have the heart to do more than just keep up with the daily routines. Bessie - who is getting huge! - really helped a lot with her sweet, charming ways. The pup might poop in the house, the chickens quit laying and the mule went through the fence again ... but there was Bessie, sweet and gentle and wanting to give me a hug (she wraps her head arou you and ever-so-gently leans) every time I went out to the barn. Cows are awesome.
DD bought a new calf from her pup's breeder - little chocolate-colored Valentine is 1/2 Holstien, 3/8 Jersey and 1/8 Milking Devon and to my vast gratitude has never ailed in any way. She's a busy little pest, into everything and goes everywhere at a flat gallop. Joyful as she is, my heart still ached and she's solidly DD's, because I was ready for a break from everything - I haven't even hatched chicks this year, that's how bad it was!
DD kept after me, reminding me of our long term goals and finally (as much to get her out of my hair as anything) I put up an ad looking for a cull cow - I thought something aging out of a dairy wouldn't be too much.
I had 4 not-at-all-cull cows offered to me within a day, lovely animals but more cow than I was interested in and more than I was looking to spend. Don't get me wrong, they were well worth the asking price and if anyone local is looking, I'm happy to pass the info, but I was pretty half-hearted and the farm owners here love a rescue so it was easy to pass.
The next morning, I get a response from a fellow who has an aged Jersey and a FF who came in with a bad quarter and he wants .50 cents a lb because he can get that from "the hot dog guy" but hates the thought of either of these ending up there.
By the time we get there, he's decided he can't part with the old girl, so we look at the FF. She was a bit of a rescue for him, a friend of his had her, had some bad luck and boarded her somewhere bigger cows bullied her, then when he saw her again sold her cheap to his friend because she was so thin. But both these guys loved her and put a lot of time into her, he realized she'd be better off sold because he couldn't rehab her any further.
Naturally, she came home. My cull cow is thin, and has a blind rear quarter from being sucked on when dry - and is also a registered, 2.5yo Jersey trained to lead and hand-milk. She's only a month fresh but stands like a rock, I don't even tie her. The owners here wanted to rescue a cow and name her Annabelle, so that's her name now. She's already been so healing for me - I enjoy milking her so much more than my goats. I love them but they're always so full of mischief. She's just so Zen. I hope I can return the favor for her - I can't wait to see her fat and sleek.
Sooo glad winter is done (knock wood) the last couple of months were hellish here. In early February, DD and I realized at the same time little Sweetpea calf wasn't really growing. I flat invited Murphy by saying "Don't worry, at least she's healthy and the vet will be coming in 3 days and we'll ask her to examine Sweetpea too."
That night, Sweetpea, who had been happy and playful all day, didn't finish her bottle. The next day she coughed a bit, but ate, then got a fever and promptly got antibiotics that afternoon. The next morning she was gone. It was that fast.
It was devastating for us, and stress after stress followed it and I didn't have the heart to do more than just keep up with the daily routines. Bessie - who is getting huge! - really helped a lot with her sweet, charming ways. The pup might poop in the house, the chickens quit laying and the mule went through the fence again ... but there was Bessie, sweet and gentle and wanting to give me a hug (she wraps her head arou you and ever-so-gently leans) every time I went out to the barn. Cows are awesome.
DD bought a new calf from her pup's breeder - little chocolate-colored Valentine is 1/2 Holstien, 3/8 Jersey and 1/8 Milking Devon and to my vast gratitude has never ailed in any way. She's a busy little pest, into everything and goes everywhere at a flat gallop. Joyful as she is, my heart still ached and she's solidly DD's, because I was ready for a break from everything - I haven't even hatched chicks this year, that's how bad it was!
DD kept after me, reminding me of our long term goals and finally (as much to get her out of my hair as anything) I put up an ad looking for a cull cow - I thought something aging out of a dairy wouldn't be too much.
I had 4 not-at-all-cull cows offered to me within a day, lovely animals but more cow than I was interested in and more than I was looking to spend. Don't get me wrong, they were well worth the asking price and if anyone local is looking, I'm happy to pass the info, but I was pretty half-hearted and the farm owners here love a rescue so it was easy to pass.
The next morning, I get a response from a fellow who has an aged Jersey and a FF who came in with a bad quarter and he wants .50 cents a lb because he can get that from "the hot dog guy" but hates the thought of either of these ending up there.
By the time we get there, he's decided he can't part with the old girl, so we look at the FF. She was a bit of a rescue for him, a friend of his had her, had some bad luck and boarded her somewhere bigger cows bullied her, then when he saw her again sold her cheap to his friend because she was so thin. But both these guys loved her and put a lot of time into her, he realized she'd be better off sold because he couldn't rehab her any further.
Naturally, she came home. My cull cow is thin, and has a blind rear quarter from being sucked on when dry - and is also a registered, 2.5yo Jersey trained to lead and hand-milk. She's only a month fresh but stands like a rock, I don't even tie her. The owners here wanted to rescue a cow and name her Annabelle, so that's her name now. She's already been so healing for me - I enjoy milking her so much more than my goats. I love them but they're always so full of mischief. She's just so Zen. I hope I can return the favor for her - I can't wait to see her fat and sleek.