When we think of farm accidents, we tend to consider major injuries. Yet little ones happen frequently causing a serious enough level of upheaval.

At the start of this spring season, I was particularly conscious that one of us might get COVID-19. We had the discussion as to how we’d manage.

My worries were alleviated quickly.

There was a good team at home here. I was concerned about our son Colm as he was going to cover all if my husband Tim became unwell. Colm also had engaged extra labour for the spring on his leased farm and has another student who does relief milking from time to time.

As it turned out, my refresher visit was fortuitous

I decided that I would learn his calf-rearing system so that I could step into that end of things.

Last week, as we were getting less busy and Colm was busy with calving; I ventured up one morning to feed his calves.

As it turned out, my refresher visit was fortuitous. I washed and disinfected my second pair of wellingtons and wore clean clothes. While there is plenty of movement between the two farms; I take extra care not to transfer anything between the calf sheds.

More people around is positive

People complain about dairy farms getting bigger and the difficulty in securing good farm labour. I accept that this is a problem for some farms. To date we have been very lucky with the people who work part time on our farm. I think it’s important to recognise and be able to accept that this labour is often for short periods of time.

Expansion also means that a business is growing and developing

Young farmers need to be in training mode and organised so that new people can be trained in quickly.

Expansion also means that a business is growing and developing. There is a need for more labour and that means less isolation for the farmer. There are more people around to interact with and create a positive atmosphere.

Dairying can be a lonely business on your own. I remember well when Tim was alone and the children were small and my time for farm work limited; an illness for Tim meant struggling on as the work still had to be done. Expansion for us has meant that if someone is unwell, the show can carry on seamlessly.

A sore finger

Back to Colm, he came into the kitchen and I knew by his demeanour that something was wrong. My eyes fell on a bloodied index finger.

He’d been closing the cow box getting ready to send the first batch of calves to the heifer rearer. He really doesn’t know what happened as is the position with most accidents.

He managed to get his finger caught and took a piece of flesh out of the side of it. It was a minor injury but horrendously painful.

I offered painkillers, assistance with bandages and so on. All were declined – he decided on coffee. Then I offered to feed his calves that were on once-a-day milk and to do the evening calf feeding regime. That offer was readily accepted. I was delighted to be fully au-fait with his system and it was purely coincidence that I was.

Feisty calves were not helpful

Tim, Colm and I went off to load the 20 calves. Colm was in agony. Feisty calves were not helpful and he was awkward trying to move them. His concentration was on protecting the finger and so his brain was working in a different way. Before long, he had snagged his side off a protruding gate latch gathering another nasty graze. (Another item for the to-do fixing list!)

It was time for Colm to go home before something serious might happen. He called it himself saying: “Lads, I need to go home!” His duties were off loaded quickly. One phone call and he had his milker in place. Tim set off with the heifers. I blew kisses at them and Tim laughed heartily at me.

Have the conversation and know what will happen

Having spent so much time and invested so much energy in them; I hated to see them go! Our other son, Philip, was engaged to milk at home so Colm could go home and rest up with his throbbing finger. His fiancée Aileen covered my home duties.

I set off to feed Colm’s calves. It is really important to have a strategy in place for when someone will get sick. Have the conversation and know what will happen. That way the stress is removed for everyone and the person in trouble can focus on getting better.