Happy sad...

I got back from Madrid mid afternoon last Monday and went to see how Robin had been getting on with some of the gateways. (We have contractors in every summer to cut the silage and their large tractors and bailers barely squeeze through the overgrown brambles and tree branches that crowd all of the field entrances). Two things here, firstly, the removed undergrowth has revealed the remains of what once was a fence which will now have to be replaced, and secondly, due to the dry conditions I’m too scared to burn the massive pile of twigs, branches and brambles Robin cut off through fear of accidentally torching all of the woodland between here and Brightling and ending up on the telly.

I forgot about the above when I suddenly had to deliver a stillborn calf on Tuesday morning, one of only three calves still to come at this late stage. This always focuses the mind. I spotted the mother in a state of labour at about 7 o’clock in the morning...the waters had already broken. I felt uneasy with this because calving tends to start early morning, say 4-5 ish. So, had the waters broken two or so hours before? If so, this could be a problem.

I let a few waves of contractions take place and saw a hoof, then two, then the beginnings of a snout. I got quite hopeful, but the contractions were lazy and short and the mother, a heifer, seemed quite disinterested in what was going on at her rear, another bad sign.  After a short while I decided to attach ropes to the feet and pull. This was quite tricky as the mum had drawn the calf back in by this stage and I had to force my hands inside and tie the ropes around the first hoof joint on each leg of the calf. It took a lot to hold against the contractions, albeit they were weak, and after fair old struggle I got him out, lifeless. I knew he had been dead for a little while but gave a couple of strong forceful pushes on his ribcage just in case, and when fluid emerged from mouth and nose I knew it was certain. All part of dealing with livestock, and a possible lesson learned. You have to become a stoic in this line of work.

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for some fun and japes in "Name That Pig™" with Penelope the chicken. Oh yes, a real game (poultry really...sorry) bird she is too! Short of being able to extend the farm budget to contract my other favourite ginger bird, Kaddy Lee-Preston from BBC Southeast Today, I had to make do with a chicken as my beautiful assistant for the spectacular cornflake-inspired pig-name selection extravaganza! Don't miss it!