Poor Katherine…we just had to accept the worst
Poor Katherine…we just had to accept the worst
I BOUGHT Katherine as a calved heifer to join our small dairy herd.
Trouble began in September. Katherine started to show fears about walking up the road with the other cows. Even if she was first cow out of the field she would wait to walk up beside my wife, Joan.
Our cattle yards are not well designed, and the cows must go down a small step from the east yard to the cubicle houses. That small step from the yard frightened Katherine greatly.
At first she would just hesitate and had to be urged down the step, but then she started to take a running jump at the step which is only three inches high. When she landed she would slide and stagger desperately to try and regain her balance. One occasion she fell, but she persisted in rushing the obstacle rather than taking the small step naturally.
We assumed Katherines fear of the step in the yard was due to slippery concrete. Our solution was to have the yards grooved. Unfortunately, the cows were already housed by the time the contractor came. The work went well but noisily, and Katherine got more and more worked up. Eventually the tension became too much and Katherine charged the gate in panic. Under the impact of a charging cow even a steel gate will yield and Katherine was away.
We caught her some 200 yards down the road, diverted her into a field, and quietened her down. When the contractor had finished we walked her calmly back to the yard, vainly searching for an explanation other than the one we didnt want to accept.
The final straw came when Katherine fell in the yard. Fortunately we were able to go to her aid, first to calm her panic, then using straw bales to support her we got her back to her feet.
The ministry vet was not convinced: "Was the cow aggressive?"
"No."
"Did she show signs of nervousness?" He waved his arms suddenly, Katherine just looked at him. He did it again, Katherine went and hid behind Joan. The vet filled in a restriction notice, and went away.
Katherine was getting thin. We were also worried about the chance that she might fall when Joan and I were not there to help. In panic she could hurt herself so we moved her into a loose box to keep her safe.
The ministry vet came back a fortnight later. He was still unconvinced. The cow seemed content in her pen, but hammering rapidly induced panic. Three knocks on the wooden side of the pen and Katherines fate was sealed.
At that time the ministry brought a slaughterman with them. The slaughterman was expecting an animal beyond control and was clearly nonplussed when Katherine stood quietly without restraint as he approached with the gun. A sharp bang and Katherine collapsed where she stood. Our first BSE case.
Poor Katherine.
P C Tolley