I've saved Mabel!!
Posted: Thursday, 12 July 2007 |
One of the sad facts of farm life is that old animals that can no longer get into calf or lamb must be sent off for the cull. My dear sweet husband had my pet coo "Mable" slated for the cull and she was to go off on Monday. As we stood in the byre yesterday and I stroked her sleek black coat for the last time I couldn't help but plead her case! Erlend said that she was not in calf and I reminded him about how two of our bulls had gotten very lazy and were not breeding - one even had to be sent off to the cull! Erlend scratched his chin and considered this for a moment but then he told me that Mabel is old. So I pointed out how fit Mabel was: no stiffness in her legs. She wasn't hobbling around like the three other cull coos! Also, she gave excellent milk and she is always very tame even when she calves. I knew there might be a chance of saving Mabel when Erlend started to scratch her ears... After consulting his breeding records and considering Mabel's fitness he decided to grant her a second chance! But he told me, "If she's no in calf in the back end (autumn) then she'll hev tae go off!" So...if anyone can spare a prayer for Mabel would you ask God if she can be in calf??? She's my sweet pet coo!! I'd hate to see her go.
Comments
You should meet damadcoo. She likes coos as well.
Muness from Fetlar
She's a beautiful cow! I wouldn't be able to send her off either. Could you maybe make her the farm "mascot"
macQ from NMtoo, USA
Got to admit it: Mabel looks way better than the cow Backie from Westray (ages back) got on celluloid accompanied by some anodyne comment that nevertheless shook the rafters of Island Blogging.
mjc from NM,USA
Normally I'd be up for it, but she's just not my type, it's not a colour thing, it's well, emm, more the fact that, Mabel, well she's a cow, and I have to draw the line somewhere. I can talk to cats, I'm a bit sheepish at times, I have been dog-tired, and felt a bit rough at times, but I don't do cows, sorry, Michelle my bell....
Thewhitesettler from The Back Burner
Much much much better!
Flying Cat from ancient blog files
WHAT!???tws can talk to CATS??
carol from over here
just thought of an advert on the tele--early 60's"hey mabel,black label"!mooo
carol from over here
You wouldn't think so, would you Carol???
Flying Cat from stalking Tws with intent
FC with tws nothing will ever be a surprise--still waiting for his snapshot
carol from 36掳in the shade
You and I could swap some good cow stories I'm sure. My husband is a veterinarian and we raise beef cattle. One year, my favorite cow was really late calving and he wanted to sell her. (I'm sure your husband sounded just about like mine.) After I pleaded her case (as you did) and told him that at least she was friendlier than some cows that had been mean a few days earlier...he said she could stay as long as she got back on schedule the next spring. And, she did! Four years later (May 2006) she died of old age on our farm. She was a good cow. Heidi
Heidi from Iowa, USA
You and I could swap some good cow stories I'm sure. My husband is a veterinarian and we raise beef cattle. One year, my favorite cow was really late calving and he wanted to sell her. (I'm sure your husband sounded just about like mine.) After I pleaded her case (as you did) and told him that at least she was friendlier than some cows that had been mean a few days earlier...he said she could stay as long as she got back on schedule the next spring. And, she did! Four years later (May 2006) she died of old age on our farm. She was a good cow. Heidi
Heidi from Iowa, USA
So...I traded my quiet cabin in the Alaskan woods for the howling winds of Orkney and life on a farm. 
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