| Masie's Day Out |
|
"Decisions… decisions… decisions…" or not! - one day is just about the same for Maisie … same as yesterday, same as the day before!” "7.00am - milked in last batch again - no point in pushing myself forward - not much milk to cause me any discomfort - roost in the belly from that big friesian - again - and her bully friends! "What do I do? - Leave the shed - out the exit - back to the paddock past the hayfeeders full of lovely hay surrounded by the first cows. There’s a few feeders willie-nillie down the lane. If only I was a bit stronger I could push in and get a bit. Or do I quit while I’m ahead - make a dash for the paddock - try to find a nice patch - graze peacefully for a little while before they get there. Some dream! "I got in to the feeders once - turned out it was only straw - no wonder no-one wanted it! I took a few mouthfulls … that’s OK … - easy - was there about 10 minutes unmolested. Then BANG! Priscilla arrived! Why doesn’t the boss have a space for each of us? Why can’t he leave us alone at the feeder eating - eventually I would get something. "By the time I get back to the paddock from the horror factory, there’s very little pasture left for me!” "Don’t know what happened to Ermie. I know I pushed her around - she never was a fatso - calved with difficulty - got depressed - always complaining about being hungry - never seemed to be in the right place at the right time.” "Last night lost her will to go on - I heard them say "Send number 443.” Don’t know what happened to her, but she’s gone now. I miss her. Now I have no-one to push around.” "Not that I’ve got much time to worry about that - too hard to keep going myself. "If only he could give us a Feeder full of hay - anything would do - even some straw would help with all this grain and lush green pasture. Give us 20 - 30 minutes night and morning unmolested to eat it - I’m sure I could eat more and then I would feel better too!” "But wait … there’s a new "Waste-Not” Feeder on a good Feed Pad. Same design but different layout. When did this happen?! Something seems different somehow. Long box full of rolls - cows opposite, nobody’s pushed me aside. Maybe I’ll just try this … I find a space - won’t be here long - 25 minutes twice a day - best make the most of it … I’m still here going well. This is lovely - much better than the few dregs of hay I used to get in the paddock - in between a push and a shove. Sometimes it wasn’t even a physical attack - it was just "the eye”. I’m not stupid - if the other cows are there I wouldn’t even try. But … "Goodness Priscilla is right next to me in the "Waste-Not”. She is busy eating in her own space and I’m in mine and I feel sort of protected. If this keeps up, I’m going to be so full that I’ll feel uncomfortable by next milking! Wonder how much milk I could give and I wonder if he’ll notice. Believe me, Maisie, he’ll notice … believe me! |