The first will contain some factual information about farming generally and the second will describe a live event that is happening on the farm or has just happened. Photographs and video will be included where possible.
Today's factual item is going to address one of the most basic terms used in describing a particular type of animal which is most often used incorrectly. Everyone will remember our childhood books that taught us basic words and spellings. In describing farm animals these books always referred to farm bovine animals as "Cows" with the result that everyone who is not involved in farming refers to all farm bovine animals as "Cows". So what is a "Cow". Well a "Cow" is a mature female bovine animal and of course it follows that there are several other names for other types of bovine animals. For example a mature Male bovine animal is a "Bull". A young female bovine animal that has not yet had any young is a "heifer". A baby bovine animal is a calf and of course we have heifer calves and bull calves and there are a number of other specific names for specific types and ages of bovine animals.
So, in future when you are driving along the road down the country and you see bovine animals in the fields don't refer to them as "Cows" ..... unless of course they are "Cows" (Mature Females). Try to figure out what they really are and give them their correct names. They will really appreciate it!!!
What do you think the following are??
Hope you got it right. Let me know if you need some help.
Today on the farm was very un eventful. The crazy routine of winter is over at last ... this has been the longest and most difficult winter in the history of farming in Ireland. It was nice to relax a little today. yesterday was the direct opposite. I went to bed at 11:30 pm on Tuesday night and awoke again at 1:00 am to check on a cow that was due to go into labour. Sure enough she had started so I got up and went to the calving unit to check her out. Didn't like how she was behaving so commenced the process of delivering the calf to discover that she had not dilated and was also carrying out a very large calf. After some consideration I decided that a Caesarean section would be necessary so I telephoned the Vet at 2:00 am and while I was waiting for him to arrive prepared the unit for an emergency procedure. Plenty of hot water, proper clothing, equipment, disinfectant etc. etc. The Vet arrived at 2:20 am and confirmed that a section was needed. By 4:00 am we had a healthy calf delivered and the Cow sewn up and comfortable. It was a very nice morning, sun up and birds singing .... too nice to go back to bed and just as well because when I went to look at the other expectant mothers another had gone into labour. Normal delivery this time all done and mother and daughter doing well by 6:00 am. This is the normal time for starting the days work on a farm so we just continued our normal routine and finished at 9:00pm just on time for the news and weather forecast. A long day, 2 Cows calved and all other routine work completed. Farmers never count hours. It would not be possible to work routine hours on a farm because you are dealing with nature all the time. Nature changes continuously and farmers need to be flexible enough to respond to these changes sometimes at very short notice. Tomorrow is another day .... and it is Sunday!!! and this is a bank Holiday weekend!!! Try telling the cattle that !!! P.S. "Cattle" is the collective name for all bovine animals .... not "Cows". Please !!!
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