The cows are out! A huge and happy relief to all of us. A few days before, their unremitting bawling made me rush off to get some organic rolled barley from Roger. Roger was suffering from the same predicament. Cathartic commiseration was exchanged in the grain store.
Saturday was the day. We fed them early and had our breakfast while they packed away theirs. Organisation is the key. We knew they’d be over-excited and attempting to take them down the road in a highly volatile state would be too dangerous. They needed half a day in a home field to get rid of their pent up angst before being moved on to the grassy river meadows. First though we had to clip off an in-growing spur on one of Desiree’s horns – a cattle crush job – and pen off a couple of late calvers who will remain at the farm in Top Meadow, a stone’s throw from our kitchen window.
Gates in place, field decided upon, all inappropriate avenues of misdirection barricaded we were ready for the off….a red laval flow of jutting hip bones, moulting moth-eaten coats, snaking necks, cavernous maws and rubbery wet pink noses stampeded out of the cow palace; with saliva flying in whippy sticky streamers they bellowed and charged their way down the drive without a moment’s hesitation, calves ricocheting between flying legs and lethal hooves. It was over in seconds and in total surprise they found themselves in Cow Moor where grass is still a rarity. The bull, who seems to have doubled in size over the winter, and maiden heifers were the next to join the herd. This caused even more excitement, as heated sexual tension combined with testing hierarchical fights. Sweat and foam glistened, steam rose in huge huffing bursts.
A quick breather before hitching up the trailer and loading batches of young stock to take over to Pulworthy – the yearlings’ summer grazing lands. Surprisingly co-operative, we accomplished this in a couple of easy journeys, returning in good time to move the now chilled-out herd down the road.
They were exemplary. With heads down, grazing earnestly, we left them in the first river meadow and wandered off, relaxed and happy, to check gates and the wire across the drinking gully. Busily tightening the wire across the gap we were completely unaware that the herd had followed and were bearing down the gully in a heaving panting mass. Calves forsaken, their mothers single-mindedly exploded into the river with all the force of enormous red battle ships. Abandoned bewildered babies shouted at the retreating armada from the top of the river bank. Suddenly in unison and like wildebeest crossing the Mara they launched themselves into the deep river which completely submerged them, up they popped like corks and seemingly unphased they proceeded to swim after their fast disappearing mothers! I was paralysed with surprise and shock as was Robert, who clinging to submerged tree roots, had managed to get out of the way in the very nick of time!
“Did you see that? Did you see it?” he exclaimed “I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was just like the Serengetti! That’s extraordinary. And they weren’t concerned…they disappeared, went right under. Completely submerged, totally! Popped up and just swam as if they’d always done it. That is extraordinary. Quite, quite extraordinary.”
Having carefully checked over the herd we ushered them back into the first river meadow. Gradually peace was restored once more.
Where it reigns and reigns and reigns….
Ahhhhhh, bliss.
13 comments
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May 13, 2008 at 7:38 am
Mopsa
Amazing – and of course no camera on hand to record cows bobbing about in the river! Must have been marvellous, if more than a little adrenalin creating!
May 13, 2008 at 9:38 am
Lizzy
Hi Paula – This looks very good. You are quite brilliant. But see my response – I’m praying you’ll have the will to go back in!
May 13, 2008 at 7:42 pm
heidi
WOW! Well it really does read like a wild west stampede! Glad to read noone got trampled, or drowned. Brought to mind the great wildebeest migrations.
Nice to see that mister bull is on the job, and that the cycle of life continues unabated. Or abashed..
ps-I particularly like the cow with the ear tags in the left hand corner. She looks so interested and yet quizzical.
May 13, 2008 at 9:00 pm
paula
No completly empty handed and I doubt it will ever happen again mopsa. Quite a sight!
May 13, 2008 at 9:01 pm
paula
No so brilliant now Lizzie – I flunked it!
May 13, 2008 at 9:06 pm
paula
Hi heidi, how are you? – has the weather turned the corner over there too? It has been a week sent from the gods here – stunningly beautiful.
By the skin of his teeth! And yes the cows are quite brazen – good on them – happy at last!
May 13, 2008 at 9:37 pm
heidi
Howdy Paula! Iam well, and good. Tons of work have kept me from blogging, or reading your blog, sad to say. My own blog has suffered from neglect, and yours is so damn inspiring!
On Mayday morning we rose at 4am to see our local Morris men and dance the summer in. It was grand, and the endless deluge did stop for the day. But still it was cold.Well, We could see our breath, and wore sweaters. Our spring has been colder than normal this year, everything is late to bloom or grow.
However all that is about to change.
The weather folks are telling us to expect 90 degrees by Thursday. Yes, that’s 90 degrees, the kind of weather we usually don’t get until July!
Freeze or roast! Well, after all that cold weather I shall bask in the heat and watch the hops grow.
May 13, 2008 at 9:39 pm
heidi
Did I mention Iam sitting here in a warm thermal shirt, insulated vest, work jeans, wool socks and wellies as it is 45 degrees and raining today?I can’t believe it’s gonna get so hot..
May 13, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Lizzy
You’re still brilliant Paula – it’s just that when it comes to some things you haven’t realised it yet. Just keep a calm head and have another go tomorrow. If you an just get past this one hurdle, you’ll see it really is a piece of cake. Sponge cake.
May 14, 2008 at 12:15 pm
paula
It’s been a slow cold spring here too – I guess that’s why we’ve all got a little excited about the gorgeousness of it all in the last week.
Your body is going to do a flip when it’s hit with extreme heat – and what will forge working be like then?! Hellish I guess…
May day sounds glorious and in just a few weeks it’ll be mid-summer’s day – half a year gone, wow. Time – more of it please.
May 14, 2008 at 1:07 pm
paula
ok Lizzie – I’ll be good and try again this evening. after all you know I can’t resist a piece of cake, especially sponge!
January 14, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Memographer
Cool! Sorry I am 2 years late. Still enjoyed your post 🙂
January 14, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Memographer
oops! 4 years late LOL