She was lying under the apple tree... The tree where the kids go on the swings. At first I thought she was only enjoying the sun, but there was something awkward about how she was lying down. Flat, not holding her head up. And the rest of the cows were at the other end of the field...
She was not alright. She was breathing rapidly and her eyes had a desperate look. She lifted her head but let it sink down quickly, back into the grass. Her mouth and nostrils were filled of mucus. Mr Daniel, our neighbor, was picking walnuts in the big tree nearby. I called for him that this cow is sick. She needs help. He climbed down the tree and came to see and quickly confirmed that this was not good. He ran to the house to call the farmer, but no one answered. He jumped in the car and drove over to his farm. But the farmer wasn't there. He left a message with one of the workers who said he would contact the farmer immediately. It was 1.30 pm.
I continued my chores in the garden, checked on the little sweet cow every 5 minutes or so. Mr Daniel continued to pick walnuts. We couldn't do much. We just waited for the farmer to get there. At 1.50pm she suddenly stopped breathing. Just like that. Right in front of my eyes. She lifted her head one last time, laid it down and - boom. She just died. It is the closest I've ever been to death. Part from all the bugs or spiders I've squished to death that is... This was different. I wanted to close her eyes but was to scared to touch her.
I shouted to Daniel that now she is gone. Then I went inside and cried for a moment. The farmer didn't arrive until 45 minutes later. He picked her up with a tractor and drove off with her in the back of his big pick up truck. With a cigarette in his mouth he waved "Bonne journée!". I guess for him it is not so emotional. Maybe it happens all the time. I don't know. But for me it was a big deal. Rest in piece little cow. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you in time.
She was not alright. She was breathing rapidly and her eyes had a desperate look. She lifted her head but let it sink down quickly, back into the grass. Her mouth and nostrils were filled of mucus. Mr Daniel, our neighbor, was picking walnuts in the big tree nearby. I called for him that this cow is sick. She needs help. He climbed down the tree and came to see and quickly confirmed that this was not good. He ran to the house to call the farmer, but no one answered. He jumped in the car and drove over to his farm. But the farmer wasn't there. He left a message with one of the workers who said he would contact the farmer immediately. It was 1.30 pm.
I continued my chores in the garden, checked on the little sweet cow every 5 minutes or so. Mr Daniel continued to pick walnuts. We couldn't do much. We just waited for the farmer to get there. At 1.50pm she suddenly stopped breathing. Just like that. Right in front of my eyes. She lifted her head one last time, laid it down and - boom. She just died. It is the closest I've ever been to death. Part from all the bugs or spiders I've squished to death that is... This was different. I wanted to close her eyes but was to scared to touch her.
I shouted to Daniel that now she is gone. Then I went inside and cried for a moment. The farmer didn't arrive until 45 minutes later. He picked her up with a tractor and drove off with her in the back of his big pick up truck. With a cigarette in his mouth he waved "Bonne journée!". I guess for him it is not so emotional. Maybe it happens all the time. I don't know. But for me it was a big deal. Rest in piece little cow. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you in time.
Kärlek
Annette
Annette
FOLLOW My Rose Valley HERE:
The dairy industry is pretty brutal, and I guess this farmer has become inured to it. Still, very sad to watch a creature die in front of your eyes.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. Remember you were there for her. She knew that and she died knowing she was not alone. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteHow sad! 😢
ReplyDeleteAaaaah, that is sad.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad. Something similar happened to me several years ago. A cow was in labor in the field next to our property and she was in obvious distress, bellowing every once in a while. Whenever I came near she would try to get up. I called the owner of the property three times so he could let the owner of the cow know. I was assured help was coming, but a few hours later that poor cow died while I stood close by (not too close so as not to make it worse for her). It makes me cry even now. I didn't know what to do to help and a mama and baby cow died. The farmer showed up shortly after she died and just hauled her into the back of his truck, waved at me and left. It still haunts me today. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope your children weren't there.
ReplyDeleteI always thought it would be so cool to live on a farm, but I know I would never get used to things like this.
ReplyDeleteI would have cried too... Animals are innocent and it is always so sad to see them go. Poor little cow. You couldn't have saved him.
ReplyDeleteGuess I wouldn't be a good farmer, instead of working I would be hugging all my cows and pigs all day long :-)
Hope it won't happen again for you.
Take care, Sigrid
What a very sad day for you Annette. I could feel the desperation as I read your story and it must be terrible to carry that with you but you did what you could for her and you cared. The problem with caring is that you inevitably get hurt. Hopefully the worst of the memory will pass soon. x
ReplyDeleteAnnette ... I'm very sorry .... I feel your sadness .... but sometimes we would like to save the world and we not can .... You're a great person and a great mother. From our distance, a big hug, beautiful woman ....
ReplyDeleteAll life is precious and I would have cried too...I almost did reading about it. It's not the death it's that I don't want anything or anyoen on this earth to suffer. Usually farmer's are pretty conscientious because it is money lost and those cows are not cheap. But they are used to a certain amount of loss....it comes with the territory and it is life. We all die...we just don't know when and isn't that a blessing!
ReplyDeleteHi Annette, So sorry you had a sad day. Death is a hard thing to get your head around isn't it? It rarely comes this close to us so we try to put it to the back of our minds. Sending a big Hugxxx Julie
ReplyDeleteOh how sad. Poor little cow. 😢
ReplyDeleteS x