I have a little story to tell...
It was the middle of December 2014 and one morning early before the sun rose and the birds began their morning routine of chirping and the rooster started calling that I was making my way up and down the milking parlor. It was a fairly ordinary morning as I recall...just the normal routine milking. But, something was slightly different this time...I noticed that there was a lot of coughing going on. Why would that be, I wondered? But I brushed it off as it had been cold lately and coughing seems to come with that kind of weather even in humans. By the end of milking that morning though I was convinced something was wrong. I briefly thought of saying something but was sure that whoever milked that night would notice as it was Wednesday and I was off that night.
I didn't hear anything about it and kept forgetting to say anything until Saturday evening when Mr. Carl walked thru the barn and commented that the cows had the flu....the whole herd...They were still coughing. Their eyes were starting to get the sick glazed over look...the milk production was dropping...
The next week the weather had been cold and rainy. Just a discouraging type of week all around. The kind of week that you want to spend a lot of time inside with a cup of coffee and a good book. The cows just got sicker and sicker. They began losing weight. The day after Christmas I got out of my car in the afternoon and noticed a peculiar smell. The whole farm was infected...What could it be? The guys began scratching their heads. The cows had been vaccinated in the fall...this must be a new strain the vaccine wasn't good for. They began to try different medicines. They would perk up for a day or two and then would regress again. I don't know what all went on when I wasn't there...I know they gave shots and all kinds of different things trying to get some kind of results but nothing was working. One week i thought they were finally getting better. Milk even went up. But the next week it was down to an all time low again. Several cows died or were shot, nothing seemed to be working.
The Sunday after Christmas I came down with the flu. Monday was one of those dreary nasty Dark days. The days were short. It was rainy and cold. Mom's family was together for the day because her youngest brother was here from Pennsylvania. I woke up that morning feeling like a wet rag. I went to Uncle Danny's as i didn't have a fever anymore but was shaky all day. Begging off work that night and next morning with hopes that i would be revived the next afternoon, I took it easy.
I did feel better the next day but still somewhat washed out. I went to work. Moving slowly. The cows were more sick then before and I'd thought they couldn't get much worse! WHAT? was going on? There was not one cow with her potential amount of milk. It was discouraging. Would I even have a job in the near future? Were they all going to die? What are we going to do with the new barn that is supposed to be able to milk up to 600 cows in 2-3 hours? Those were thoughts that cruised thru the recesses of my head. Milking wasn't even fun anymore...I didn't feel the best...the Cows were gross and obviously didn't feel good....the worst kickers barely moved a hoof.
My health improved somewhat for a few days but then it seemed to get worse...so for 2 long weeks with a combo of sick cows and sick me....things were kind of sad! :) Finally I went to the Dr I had white blisters in the back of my mouth...Actually i went to Urgent Care Friday night and they told me i was fine... It was most likely just the flu. But by Tuesday i knew something was desperately wrong. The blisters kept spreading and seemed to be getting worse. So after a lot of calling around I went to the doctor. Tests came back negative on strep and the flu, but she treated me for strep as she was pretty sure that's what it was. I now began a long road to recovery (that's how it seemed) :-)
The cows still were not good...in fact they were probably worse.
Then one morning Mr Carl came into help me finish up and asked if i'd heard the verdict? No, I hadn't. Well, they'd sent tests to the lab and results were Lung worms. ugh! could i get that? I sure hope not! They treated for that....and with in 2 days the cow were perking....and milk was rising...YES!!!! Sighs with relief.... It's been a LONG month!
There are still a few cows who needed treated for Pnuemonia that they had gotten due to the worms and there are still a few who seem slightly sick...there is still some coughing and hacking and wheezing and snorting and sneezing going on....but they are acting Normal again! My arms are terribly scratched and somewhat bruised up...but I DON'T CARE...the Cows are getting better....I still have a job and it's fun again and I feel good again!
The weather has been better in the past week too...and that sure has helped my outlook on life. I even went barefoot outside one afternoon and warmed my toes!
SPRING IS COMING!!! :)
there....that little story turned out a little longer then i was planning on...But that's the story of the last month....
It was the middle of December 2014 and one morning early before the sun rose and the birds began their morning routine of chirping and the rooster started calling that I was making my way up and down the milking parlor. It was a fairly ordinary morning as I recall...just the normal routine milking. But, something was slightly different this time...I noticed that there was a lot of coughing going on. Why would that be, I wondered? But I brushed it off as it had been cold lately and coughing seems to come with that kind of weather even in humans. By the end of milking that morning though I was convinced something was wrong. I briefly thought of saying something but was sure that whoever milked that night would notice as it was Wednesday and I was off that night.
I didn't hear anything about it and kept forgetting to say anything until Saturday evening when Mr. Carl walked thru the barn and commented that the cows had the flu....the whole herd...They were still coughing. Their eyes were starting to get the sick glazed over look...the milk production was dropping...
The next week the weather had been cold and rainy. Just a discouraging type of week all around. The kind of week that you want to spend a lot of time inside with a cup of coffee and a good book. The cows just got sicker and sicker. They began losing weight. The day after Christmas I got out of my car in the afternoon and noticed a peculiar smell. The whole farm was infected...What could it be? The guys began scratching their heads. The cows had been vaccinated in the fall...this must be a new strain the vaccine wasn't good for. They began to try different medicines. They would perk up for a day or two and then would regress again. I don't know what all went on when I wasn't there...I know they gave shots and all kinds of different things trying to get some kind of results but nothing was working. One week i thought they were finally getting better. Milk even went up. But the next week it was down to an all time low again. Several cows died or were shot, nothing seemed to be working.
The Sunday after Christmas I came down with the flu. Monday was one of those dreary nasty Dark days. The days were short. It was rainy and cold. Mom's family was together for the day because her youngest brother was here from Pennsylvania. I woke up that morning feeling like a wet rag. I went to Uncle Danny's as i didn't have a fever anymore but was shaky all day. Begging off work that night and next morning with hopes that i would be revived the next afternoon, I took it easy.
I did feel better the next day but still somewhat washed out. I went to work. Moving slowly. The cows were more sick then before and I'd thought they couldn't get much worse! WHAT? was going on? There was not one cow with her potential amount of milk. It was discouraging. Would I even have a job in the near future? Were they all going to die? What are we going to do with the new barn that is supposed to be able to milk up to 600 cows in 2-3 hours? Those were thoughts that cruised thru the recesses of my head. Milking wasn't even fun anymore...I didn't feel the best...the Cows were gross and obviously didn't feel good....the worst kickers barely moved a hoof.
My health improved somewhat for a few days but then it seemed to get worse...so for 2 long weeks with a combo of sick cows and sick me....things were kind of sad! :) Finally I went to the Dr I had white blisters in the back of my mouth...Actually i went to Urgent Care Friday night and they told me i was fine... It was most likely just the flu. But by Tuesday i knew something was desperately wrong. The blisters kept spreading and seemed to be getting worse. So after a lot of calling around I went to the doctor. Tests came back negative on strep and the flu, but she treated me for strep as she was pretty sure that's what it was. I now began a long road to recovery (that's how it seemed) :-)
The cows still were not good...in fact they were probably worse.
Then one morning Mr Carl came into help me finish up and asked if i'd heard the verdict? No, I hadn't. Well, they'd sent tests to the lab and results were Lung worms. ugh! could i get that? I sure hope not! They treated for that....and with in 2 days the cow were perking....and milk was rising...YES!!!! Sighs with relief.... It's been a LONG month!
There are still a few cows who needed treated for Pnuemonia that they had gotten due to the worms and there are still a few who seem slightly sick...there is still some coughing and hacking and wheezing and snorting and sneezing going on....but they are acting Normal again! My arms are terribly scratched and somewhat bruised up...but I DON'T CARE...the Cows are getting better....I still have a job and it's fun again and I feel good again!
The weather has been better in the past week too...and that sure has helped my outlook on life. I even went barefoot outside one afternoon and warmed my toes!
SPRING IS COMING!!! :)
there....that little story turned out a little longer then i was planning on...But that's the story of the last month....
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