FARM DIARY
Goscombe Farm, Gundleton 2012
May saw the arrival of three calves in the
first week, one to a three year old heifer
named Orphan Annie, yes, sadly orphaned
soon after birth, purchased from a local dairy
at two weeks old and hand-reared. Luckily
Annie started labour during the morning
feed and I delayed hubby and Stan (son)
going to work, which was just as well as it
required all three of us to assist with the
calving and produced a lovely heifer calf.
Once the weather had settled, May was
spent preparing, including weaning and
sorting of the cows, calves and the store
cattle for their summer grazing sites; with
over 200 head, this is quite a task. Prior to
any movement lots of dog walking is
necessary to check all boundary fence lines
and water supplies at the outlying grazing
sites, which are located between
Winchester and Alton. Much of it is
conservation land including water meadows
and Butterfly Reserves.
Moving the stock requires military precision;
after setting up the holding and loading
areas, the tractor with the large cattle box for
the cows and the pickup with the small cattle
box for calves, then the game of pairs
begins. For example the 20 cows with their
autumn calves, needed to graze the Alton
site, require isolating from the 35 pairs of
cow/calves in the barn and then again
divided into groups of 8-10 per load. As you
can imagine this is a very time-consuming
job as all the ear-tag numbers have to be
double-checked. It is imperative all cows
find their calves when released, so a can of
14
marker spray is a great help. There is
nothing more satisfying than opening the
tailgate and watching all the cows enjoying
the fresh green lush grassy fields while the
calves run wild exploring the vast open
space after their barn confinement.
The swallows arrived early May and how
funny to watch the Collie dogs running
round in a circle trying to catch them, not a
chance! The birdsong this year seems to fill
the air constantly, all chattering at the same
time, a joy to hear and so many have nested
in the farm buildings.
By the last week of May two thirds of the
cattle are out to grass, eight calves born
safe and well, first cut of silage, early
preparation of the show cattle, the freezers
full with five butchered pigs, the sun is
shining, four kittens found new homes and
finally a chance to catch up on all the
dreaded livestock paperwork, unbelievable
amount, a job continually put off till
tomorrow!.
June was full of the Queen’s Jubilee
celebrations; the afternoon tea party at
Bighton Village Hall was really enjoyable,
thank you to the organisers. In fact I had two
aftern