Testing Cattle in West Mayo

The rain has made itself known today. But it is forecast to clear up in the afternoon.

I was over in the house organising things at about 8.15 a.m. and I got a call from M. I've known M since childhood. He was having the "testing" done on the cattle and was wondering if I could come over for twenty minutes to help with herding them into the yard. I was only a half mile away so I said I'd be straight over.

No bother getting them in the yard but couldn't get them in the shed. The vet arrived. You are supposed to be ready and waiting when Mr. Vet arrives. We weren't ready or waiting. He, the vet, was understanding and patient, but you'd be on edge to be ready for him anyway (kinda like in the old days how you'd be on edge if the priest was visiting!)

As we got the cattle into the crush the rain came hard. I was dressed for a San Francisco day except for the wellys I had purchased a week ago for lawn-cutting. So I had the wellys and that was a good thing. We were through fields of long rushes chasing after the livestock and sinking in the wet muddy soil. Even though I had wellys my jeans were wetted up to my thighs. The mud got on my jeans at the level of my knees. I don't know how this happens but it does and it reminded me of the days before I left, many of them spent in long wet rushes in the wet fields running after cattle.

The vet was "testing" for T.B . This is done, I believe, on all animals over 18 months if they're being sold ,and on animals over 24 months regardless of whether they're being sold or not. Mr. Vet trimmed a little hair off the animal's coat before inserting two quick injections located above the shoulder. After asking him, he answered that the trimming was a way for him to identify where he prodded the animal, so he could inspect that area in a few days to observe the reaction to the injection. I tried to see where he had removed the hair from but it was not clearly obvious to me. He also took blood from the animals in a very private, I would say, location. M., the farmer, lifted the animals tails up high while the vet took a sample of blood from the underside of the tail. This extraction was the exact same as we humans experience in the doctors office except not at a similar location. I can only imagine what it felt like to the cows and I hope that is the way I stay for life!

All done and we let the animals out into their fields again. I presume they were happy to be released and to have the invasion of their privacy over. Mr. Vet went on his merry way.

I was soaked to the skin. M. and myself talked for a little while and the coldness set in through the wet clothes. I was afraid I'd get pneumonia. I haven't got it yet.

I left M. at approximately 12 noon. Note to self: 20 minutes is 3 hours and forty-five minutes in Ireland. Note to self: Remember this and I'll be fine.

Got home. Changed. Lit turf fire. Anna was frying (again). We have to stop the fries. Brilliant. Rested on couch and had to remove my sweater. I was all warm and fuzzy again.

The day is clearing up now and it is promised good for a few days again. We've had great weather since we came back. It is indeed nice to be here and I think we are settling nicely.