Cried my eyes out last night

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MizElz

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sorry if this is not a directly horse-related post....
i went out to get Ellie in last night and saw a little black heap in by the hedge. There are about 30 dry dairy cows turned out in the field at the moment; this includes two poorly girls who are living out their last few weeks before being PTS. One of them, a seriously old 'granny cow' named BeeGee (Big Girl) has been looking desperately poor for the last couple of days, standing with her back hunched, and another little friend propping her up. i went over to see what was up, tho i think deep down i already knew. when i saw her up close, it was just so heart wrenching; she wasnt quite unconscious - her eyes were open but bloodshot, and every now and again she gave a little kick and a moan. her little friend was stood motionlessly over her, with her nose resting on BeeGee's. there is something about seeing an animal as big as that prone on the ground - i cant help but think of my poor gelding, who i lost a few years back. I think what also got to me was the fact that, even though when i rang the farmer he came straight out and covered her over with a blanket, there was nothing that could have been done for her last night. mercifully, she had passed away by this morning. I dont think i have ever cried so much - at least, not for a good few years. and all for a dairy cow!
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i dont know, tbh...i've been saying that for the last few days. i guess its just the way things are; it would cost too much to get the vet out, and the knacker men only come out during the week. didnt seem fair though; she was skin and bone. and, as a mere farm tenant, i cant really say too much! they did take hay and water out to her last night, but im pretty sure she was too far gone to even notice.
 
awww what a wee shame one day i went into my field and one of the sheep had just been given an injection she was staring right at me blinking away it was so sad, to make things worse her tiny lamb was with her nuging at her. he has also sadly passed away
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poor we thing

rip beegee!!
 
I 've been there my horses are on a farm and being soft hearted i get attached to the cows and like you give them names, in facted they all have names. I know them all by name (names I've given them) all 100 odd of them. I've even started naming them after eventers and their horses. Zara,Toytown.................
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Last year we had a black cow called lils went down one night that the farmer was out so i stayed with her and got her up and back on her feet. A few weeks later she went down again and i got the farmer who just said she'll be died by morning its not worth me getting the vet out not worth the cost of phone call!
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So i sat with her until she died ! YES am soft I understand farming am from a farming family, am just soft and see them as individuals just like i do with any animal.
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So your not alone many a time I've had a good old cry over a cow
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Aww RIP BeeGee..

I keep my horses on an ex dairy farm, they still keep a few calves and have some cows over winter for another farmer, a couple went down last year and I'm pleased to say the vet was called out so they weren't left to suffer.
 
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i dont know, tbh...i've been saying that for the last few days. i guess its just the way things are; it would cost too much to get the vet out, and the knacker men only come out during the week. didnt seem fair though; she was skin and bone. and, as a mere farm tenant, i cant really say too much! they did take hay and water out to her last night, but im pretty sure she was too far gone to even notice.

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It certainly is not the way things are at all with all dairy farmers. We would never leave a cow outside in that desperate state, considering how cold it has been overnight. If they can't get up, they're going to dehydrate anyway. Offering them a bucket doesn't mean they're going to miraculously get up and drink from it. It's cruel to leave them until they just die.

First port of call would be to try and sit the cow up and prop her up with some bales. They really don't cope being laid flat out. We always call the vet out to "downer cows" as we call them. Poorly cows are usually kept in as well where they are warm, dry and can be fed and watered and treated with medication easier. A closer eye can be kept on any signs of deterioration or improvement too.

If she's an old barren dairy cow, I don't see why the farmer kept her when she had become so poor anyway. We would always send them off as a casualty before they got to that state, for their sakes as well as our own. We have some barrens that spend the summer suckling a few calves as it saves the time on feeding them. They're fit and healthy, just not going to go through another lactation. They enjoy getting the chance to actually rear calves before their end comes.
 
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