FARM DIARY
Goscombe Farm, Gundleton
2014, what a start, the torrential rain with
flooding in many areas plus the damaging
high winds causing havoc to so many areas;
we can all be so busy in our daily lives but
how heartwarming to hear the news stories
of communities and strangers pulling
together to help each other when life throws
unexpected challenges. The rescue and
removal of 550 head of cattle from the
Somerset Plains was quite something. I
currently have 240 head of stock and just the
thought of moving them gives me a
headache, let alone to manage it in a few
hours with water constantly rising. I just
hope I will never have to face such a
challenge. Hubby has always moaned that
the main farm is on sloping ground and how
nice would it be to have the building on a flat
site but I am really grateful in the present
climate that it’s not, as the water will always
run down a hill.
You may have noticed the two Shetland
Ponies in the far field opposite the yard,
Pearl and Sapphire. Their water meadow
fields at Easton have been flooded by the
army to avoid further flooding in Winchester.
Once the water recedes they will return
home.
January, February and as I write this in early
March, calving has been continual, including
two sets of twins and no let up for a while
yet, so more sleepless nights still to come.
People have asked me how do I know when
to assist when a cow is calving, so I will try
and explain the process. The cow is
pregnant for nine months (280-288 days).
12
Most cows come into season, referred to as
bulling, every 3 weeks. Ideally if the cow is
serviced on her second season after calving
she will calve again within 365 days; a calf a
year is the aim. The majority of my cows do
calve within twelve months, occasionally at
eleven months and once at 10 months
between calves but this was unplanned and
rather a shock; she must have been
extremely fertile. Some exceptions are
mainly the more mature cow whose seasons
may become more irregular, or if a cow who
previously may have suffered complications
from calving, may delay coming into season.
When a cow is near to calving, the milk veins
below her stomach become more prominent
and the udder begins to fill and when her
teats become firmer, calving is fairly
imminent. Other signs - she becomes
floppier (technical term I use) around her
opening and may have clear jelly-type
discharge up to three days prior to calving,
her hip area becomes hollow looking as the
calf drops.
The first indication that labour has begun is
that she will hold her tail high as though she
is about to dung. Soon after, the water bag
will show, a very important stage as the
pressure of the water bag dilates the cervix.
It is always best to let the water bag rupture
on its own, as while the calf is still within the
bag and attached to the cow through its
umbilical cord, it is safe. Once the bag
ruptures, generally the feet are showing, at
which point it does not hurt to have a light
internal feel for the nose, which indicates the