Recently, I was called to examine a bunch of spring calves out on grass that were not doing so well. I was told by my client when he booked the call that it was not an emergency, but to give him half an hour’s notice before I called, which would give him enough time to get the animals into the yard.

I rang to say I was on my way, expecting that he’d need all of the half hour and more to bring the weanlings in, as it was a beautiful summer’s day and what young animal would relish the thought of being corralled for veterinary attention. 

When I arrived, my client was reading the newspaper and the cattle were all lying down. I had not expected this scene. I’d imagined that the animals would still be excited, roaming around the yard trying to escape my attentions.

I enquired as to how come they were all so calm. “Sure, it only took me a few minutes to bring them in,” the farmer said. He showed me his latest trick at calf control at pasture. In the corner of the yard, was a quiet old cow, with a baggy udder and a minor limp.

He explained to me that this cow was a millionaire (SCC), that she had two bad feet and that he’d prefer not to sell her to somebody else. Instead, he had dried her off quite some time ago to give her a chance to put some condition on.

He had put her with the calves once at pasture and ever since, she’s had a calming influence on them. “Now what do you think of that?” he asked.

How could I burst his bubble, but it had to be done. As gently as possible, I praised the ingenuity of using the cow as a calming influence on the calves. However, at the same time, I had to tell him about the other risks posed by this bit of ingenuity – the unintended consequences.

I gave a brief explanation on Johne’s disease, how it is transmitted and the risks posed by older cows with conditions, such as chronic mastitis/high SCC scores; chronic lameness and so forth. I also explained how young stock, especially those under one year of age, are the most vulnerable to acquiring the infection and the lifelong implications of this. He summed up the situation in one: it’s like putting the fox into the hen house. What more could I say.

I met my client one week later and I could see he understood the implications of what I said very clearly. He took the cow away to the knackery as it was less costly to do that than hold onto her in the long run. As I left him, he informed me that, since the cow was no longer in charge of the hen house (the calves), that I better give an hour’s notice in future, or indeed, that I might like to help round them up.

* Michael Sexton is a vet in Riverview vet clinic, Bandon, Co Cork, which is part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices working together to achieve a better future for agriculture in Ireland. Visit www.xlvets.ie