One of our favorite cows, Maude, has been sick. She normally is the "happy go lucky" girl who trotted to the feeding troughs, ears flapping, with a big "smile" on her face. About a month ago our happy girl was slow to walk, not interested in eating, and had some very awful secretions. The Vet was called and she was sent to the large animal clinic. Diagnosis, oak tree toxicity probably from eating acorns. That seemed dubious as no one else was in similar condition. Cows move around eating together and when one finds something yummy, the rest are quick to be there to enjoy it. Anyways after a couple weeks at the clinic (where her calf was born and died), she came back to the farm. The Vet orders were to keep her away from Lance, the bull, and out of the pasture with the oak trees for at least 60 days. She continued to decline under our care so the Vet was called out again and after a round of probiotics, antibiotics, and steroids, she seemed markedly better this morning. I saw the trot, flappy ears, and smile when she showed up for breakfast this morning. We are hopeful that Maude has turned a corner and is on the mend!
Friday, a week from now, we have annual vaccinations. This is always a tense time for us as all the cows know what we are doing as we try to entice the herd up to the chute area for their shots. We understand why they don't like being held in the chute as they get stuck a couple times, but its the only way we can accomplish our goal safely. Also we will separate One-Two and Summer from their mamas so they can be weaned. I can hear the unhappiness already... At this time Dawn will rejoin the herd permanently. She is Big Mama's baby born in November 2022. She is also the daughter of Valentino. Dawn is our first replacement heifer from our herd. In theory, she will live out her life having babies here with us.
I got buzzed by my first Hummingbird a couple days ago so have put the feeder out for another year. I haven't seen the Purple Martins yet this year. I figure they think our housing situation is so bad, they probably will not show. The barn swallows are back and trying to rebuild last years nests. I am trying to remain vigilant knocking down their nests built on the back porch. We'll see how I fair...
The farmers have seeded the fields with corn and the work has begun on getting the hay fields in shape. It's the same sequence every year...
