Monday 15 December 2014

The big day.

As you all know, we house our neighbour and friend's cattle over the winter; this usually means in-calf heifers from the milking herd of pedigree Holsteins.

Bit by bit they have been coming in, being brought round by the road from their farm, to spend the winter months in deep straw, awaiting the birth of their calves in the New Year.   But today saw a large influx as the very last came out of the fields (where there is still plenty of grass for them) and into the barn.   This was not so much because the weather is against them - they don't need to overeat when they are in calf and there is still plenty of sunshine most days.  The reason they have come in is because they need to be kept together for tomorrow and also easily accessible.   It is a big day.

The TB tester is coming to test the whole herd for TB.   This is always a tense time for farmers and although we are not in an area where TB is a real scourge, it will still be a great relief when the testing has been done.   We have our fingers crossed that every single cow will test negative.

15 comments:

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Prayers all the testing goes well with no positive results.
Sounds weird. Have a good holiday season.

Terry and Linda said...

I LOVE WHEN THE COWS COME TO THE FARM! It's my favorite time of winter. We won't see them for a month or so, but I AM READY!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/?s=The+Adventures+of+Fuzzy+and+Boomer&submit=Search
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

MorningAJ said...

Hope all's well with the cows. I know it's a worry.

Heather said...

I do hope the testing goes well tomorrow and that all the cows will be clear.
Thankyou for your kind comment on my blog, and no, I haven't drawn the squirrel yet. I still have quite a few birds to conquer!

Rachel Phillips said...

You don't have badgers up there. But still, fingers crossed.

jinxxxygirl said...

TB...... I know its a different TB but my daughter came up positive on a TB tine test when she was 4....What a journey that was. I think i aged 10 years when she had a positive result..We still have no idea where she caught it. Imagine trying to get a 4 yr old to swallow medication several times a day for 9 months!!! UUuughh... Good news...she never had an active case of it and by the grace of the Gods she never will.. but TB in humans sits like a time bomb waiting to go off... If ever her immune system is brought low by something else thats when TB likes to rear its ugly head... 20, 30 or more years later. But knock on wood everything is good at the moment and she is 28.... I hope your testing goes well WEaver... Hugs! deb

Cloudia said...

Once again you have made us understand the reality of your farming life. Thank you.


ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3

Joanne Noragon said...

Will some of them return to the fields for a bit?

Penny said...

I hope they are all of. Here we don't test for to any more which has has always worried me as it will be a disaster if it returns. Our major problem in Oz is johnes, we are free but at one stage an old cow turned up with it in a different state in a sale, we never really knew if it came from us as all ours had negative tests but it took years before we were declared johnes free.2

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Yes, indeed. Fingers crossed. I remember watching TB testing in cows on..now don't laugh...All Creatures Great and Small. On TV. Am I a back to nature kind of gal, or what?
;) m & jb

Judy said...

Oh--I remember that tense time. Hope all goes well.

Cro Magnon said...

And then they blame Badgers. Over here when TB ran riot years ago, they blamed birds. Hope all is OK, as I suspect it will be.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

I am hoping with you that the tests are all negative.......

Gwil W said...

Every day is a big day down on the farm Pat. Just ask your dog. But I sense this is a very big day.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I will keep you informed. Thanks for showing interest.