FARM DIARY
Goscombe Farm, Gundleton
March and April have been really hectic with
regular calving day and night; forty plus new
calves so far, a new litter of eight piglets,
with the daily routine of feeding and bedding
at both Goscombe and Bighton Bottom
Farm. It seems never ending and surprising
how long all the small jobs take. Livestock
farming is a life choice, their welfare is a
huge responsibility and takes priority over all
else. It is a 24/7 job, although there are down
days when the livestock test you to your
limits or a calving happens when you had
planned to go out: ‘How they know this?’ Or
sadly, a loss of life. this is all overshadowed
with the joy of seeing your own cattle grazing
the green fields with their new calves and
the sun on their back, so satisfying.
The continual wet weather has been
challenging and the two gale break screens
I purchased for the top barn have saved the
day. Prior to their installation, the rain with
the strong winds was blowing at such an
angle, half their straw bedding was getting
wet, never a problem encountered in
previous years; but now, reassuring knowing
the housed cattle are dry, warm and happy.
The annual TB test was carried out during
the second week of April, luckily on dry days,
all hands to the pump and actually worked
very well; with the handling systems set up
in advance plus the additional help, over 200
head were tested clear on the Friday; a huge
sigh of relief, for another 12 months at least.
After a busy, emotional week, I took the rest
of the afternoon off (well from 3pm anyway)
went to get my nails manicured, taking
14
rather longer than the 30 minute
appointment, I wonder why? Followed by a
visit from the hairdresser, a posh evening
dress donned, chauffeured by lovely
neighbours Andy & Lyli, so I could part take
in a tipple or three, and had a fab evening at
the Mayor’s Charity Ball with Ernie and
Barbara, a perfect evening to end a perfect
day.
On the clear test, some of the store cattle
were sold and with the weather starting to
dry and warm up, finally I was able to let
approximately one third of the herd out to
local pasture, although as the forecast is still
unsettled, the remaining herd will not go out
until May so limiting the damage to the still
soft ground. The cattle are looking forward to
this as much as me.
April also saw the arrival of a very special
calf. Gwendoline, one of my pedigree
Charolais heifers, had the water bag
showing soon after lunch and typically
hubby was working the other side of
Basingstoke so I called in a good very
experienced friend to be on hand. By the
time hubby arrived home the feet were
showing. Having given her plenty of time to
dilate her cervix, the calf was not
progressing so the three of us tried with the
ropes to pull but ended up using the calving
jack and very soon a perfect live bull calf
was born, weighing a whacking 53kg, huge
for a heifer and surprisingly with very little
stress on Gwen. A much long awaited event
and his pedigree name had already been