Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Livestock and Growing on a larger scale => Topic started by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 14:27

Title: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 14:27
I dont know what to do with myself,  my hearts racing and i feel sick.   :(
The vet is here doing our TB test and I'm a bag of nerves, same as always when its done.  It makes me ill with worry that i dont think its worth keeping cattle any longer.
They have started with my Highlands.  All the cows are heavily in calf, its just the pits.
2hours to go and it will be over and we'll know one way or the other.

Sorry for taking it out on you lot :(
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: mumofstig on February 04, 2011, 14:37
and breathe ...............

Chin up It's only for a little while and then it's over and done with til the next time.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: arugula on February 04, 2011, 14:39
You see what Adam Henson goes through every time they show his testing on Countryfile. :(
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 14:46
If we get even one reactor the whole farm is on standstill until we get 2 clear tests, and thats only after the animals have been slaughtered.  The thought of slaughtering a cow just weeks away from calving i cant cope with. I know i should be able to by now but i cant.  
The cows and calves are back out in the field now and the men have gone up to bring the bull in.
My hands are shaking so much i keep typing the wrong letters.

I know just how Adam feels. He's lovely.

I'm going down to see whats happening
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 14:57
The Highland bull, cows and calves have gone clear.  They're doing my young stock now.  Then they start on the South Devons.


Edited to add.  My youngsters are clear.

Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: John on February 04, 2011, 15:39
So is that it? All clear? Can we breathe again?
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 15:58
They've just finished the South Devon herd and we're clear.

I'm going to make a brew for the men and vet, have a good weep and then i hope to feel better.  Pathetic I am, a trembling wreck, but its over.  Thanks you lot. :)
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: arugula on February 04, 2011, 15:58
Oh, good news Spana! What a relief for you! :)
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: rachelr on February 04, 2011, 16:18
I am so happy for you honey. There is nothing worse than the 'fear' the tb testing brings.

xxx
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Springlands on February 04, 2011, 16:20
Glad to know all went well - enjoy that cuppa.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 04, 2011, 16:26
Congrats on going clear! TB testing is a very worrying time, we have been under restrictions for over a year now and have our next test on Monday :(. We have sent 6 off so far and all of them have come back clear which makes the whole thing worst. All our girls are dry at the moment ready to start calving at the end of the month  so very stressful time. I know exactly  what your going through.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: John on February 04, 2011, 16:28
Fantastic :) Really pleased for you Spana

Now why can't they vaccinate cattle instead of this system which seems to me to crackers?
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: arugula on February 04, 2011, 16:33
I totally agree with you about vaccination John, but I believe they keep telling us it would be too expensive. How would the cost compare though, with the compensation and associated costs involved in TB testing and subsequent culling?
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 04, 2011, 16:36
The whole system is crackers and such a waste of time money and most of all a waste of good cattle. There is a vaccine for both cattle and badgers but bullets are far cheaper to use I'm afraid
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: tosca100 on February 04, 2011, 17:02
They've just finished the South Devon herd and we're clear.

I'm going to make a brew for the men and vet, have a good weep and then i hope to feel better.  Pathetic I am, a trembling wreck, but its over.  Thanks you lot. :)

That's wonderful Spana. I have to say you are stronger than me, I wouldn't be able to keep cattle in a TB hotspot, the constant worry would send me loopy lala.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Junie on February 04, 2011, 17:32
Oh, that must be such a relief.

Congrats on going clear! TB testing is a very worrying time, we have been under restrictions for over a year now and have our next test on Monday :(. We have sent 6 off so far and all of them have come back clear which makes the whole thing worst. All our girls are dry at the moment ready to start calving at the end of the month  so very stressful time. I know exactly  what your going through.
I have to admit, that if they are tested after slaughter and found clear, how come you are still under restrictions..  I don't understand!! What is the point of further testing?
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: John on February 04, 2011, 18:53
I have to admit, that if they are tested after slaughter and found clear, how come you are still under restrictions..  I don't understand!! What is the point of further testing?

I think the idea is that there may be infection developing so a second test reveals it.

I still don't understand why they don't vaccinate in hotspots at least - after all, vaccination ended smallpox
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 04, 2011, 21:39
Congrats on going clear! TB testing is a very worrying time, we have been under restrictions for over a year now and have our next test on Monday :(. We have sent 6 off so far and all of them have come back clear which makes the whole thing worst. All our girls are dry at the moment ready to start calving at the end of the month  so very stressful time. I know exactly  what your going through.

Over a year with such stress is dreadful, and theres me whinging about 1 afternoon.  I really feel for you M-H and to have them all came back clear is just rubbing salt in the wounds.  Do you still have to have 2 clear tests or is it 1as  they haven't found any lesions? I'll certainly be thinking of you on Monday, I'm sure the others here will be too.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: joyfull on February 04, 2011, 21:45
So pleased for you Spana, and fingers crossed for you Mother Hen xx
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 06, 2011, 10:34
Sorry Spana, only just read your reply. Yes we have to go clear over to tests tohave the restrictions lifted. Ministry vet coming tomorrow. Not sure if this is for good or bad. Fingers crossed though I'm sure it will be fine :)
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: joyfull on February 06, 2011, 11:08
fingers crossed for you mother-hen xx
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 06, 2011, 11:15
...and from us here. Is it 1st or 2nd test.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 07, 2011, 15:56
It was the first of two before we can go clear. All done now girls all behaved themselves, will just have to wait 'til thursday now. I have to say the vet from the ministry was really nice and helpful. Lets hope his in a good mood on Thursday and it's not raining  :(
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: joyfull on February 07, 2011, 16:52
good luck for Thursday, not sure I could cope with the stress  :(
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 07, 2011, 20:27
...and good luck from both of us here.  Been thinking of you today wondering how it was going.  Cant have been easy putting that number through. Are they all inside?

 Hope it goes as well on Thursday.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 10, 2011, 18:17
How did the TB test go Mother Hen :unsure:
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 26, 2011, 06:28
Sorry I have been so busy that I haven't been near a computer for weeks. Just thought I'd let you know our tb test didn't go so well. Had 4 inconclusives, 1 of which was inconclusive at the last test so she automatically becomes a reactor so she has gone and we wait for the results, which will probably be clear they always are. So we are still under restriction and will have to go through the whole thing again in sixty days. Fortunately I am to polite to say what I would like to say about the whole thing but to say I am mortified is an understatement. But hey-ho life goes on and our busy time is coming up with all our girls about to calf we won't have too much time to think about it
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: joyfull on February 26, 2011, 07:02
so sorry  :(, hang on in there and remember we are all here to listen should you need to rant - thats what friends are for xxx
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Mother-Hen on February 26, 2011, 16:03
Thanks for that Joyful. It's just so frustrating knowing that the whole thing is such a farce. All the girls we have had to send off have all come back negative so far which would suggest that the original test is very flawed. But who are we to question th goverment's decisions, of course they always know best especially were British farming is concerned, look at the hash up that they've made of it so far.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Spana on February 27, 2011, 22:21
Bad time for you Mother Hen.  Have been wondering how you were getting on.



Its hard to explain how awful it is putting each animal through to be checked, I cant help anymore.  
A whole industry has built up around TB,   and the vets around here seem to spend most days doing TBtests.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: John on February 28, 2011, 10:57
They had TB on countryfile last night. Makes me so mad when they said about vaccinations but it may take 3 years or more to sort the EU legislation.

It's the waste that is so annoying. Sending off a cow in calf to slaughter just seems so wrong. Perhaps they should make some of the office people in DEFRA and politicians actually do the culling. That would make them buck their ideas up.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: Thrift on February 28, 2011, 11:09
The whole thing is appalling. I'm so sorry for what you have to go through. Last night, watching Adam's tests, I was on the edge of my seat with my pulse racing. I can well imagine how you both feel.
Title: Re: Help, I'm a bag of nerves
Post by: rubenjohnson on May 07, 2011, 13:37
be confident! nothing will happen, u are going to get cure soon and look after the cattle...