Mistaken Identity

209 has calved AND she’s got a Hereford calf, how’s that happened?”
Statements and questions at this time of day when my brain cells haven’t warmed up yet.
The words echo and are like verbal jump leads. I am just starting on the mechanics of artificial insemination, when I hear “no, no, no’. ‘She was supposed to be in-calf to Friesian.”
Erm 209, ah yes, I remember she was difficult to get in-calf, so used a Hereford in desperation. “That’s OK then”
209 was the sort of cow that when you saw her in the AI stalls your heart sank mainly because she did nothing for conception rates. I remember thinking, if you don’t hold this time you can go on a little holiday. The threat worked.
We’re DIYers. No not putting shelves like DIY SOS, but we trained to do the inseminating ourselves. This was following the Foot and Mouth in 2001, we thought we wouldn’t get caught out again. It’s not possible to train in this country now due to rules and bureaucracy. Should you want to do it now you would have to go to Poland. (I’d better stop there, I sense a rant coming on). Anyway it’s been worthwhile – Foot and Mouth couldn’t happen again – could it?
Back to reality, calves to feed. To hear them it’s like being at the World Nectarine Eating Championships. Slurp, slurp.
I continue in my own little world, mulling over all sorts of things when I hear another colleague say,
“209 has got Hereford calf”
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