Mrs Down's Diary

FRANTICALLY spinning at the end of a rope with a calf at the other end led me to suggest to John we might try another method of restraint whilst he carried out a surgical procedure on the calf's leg.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Feb 2009, 11:48 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:05 BST

The calf in question has had one of its back legs in pot for three weeks. Being trodden on by a large cow when it was probably having a quiet kip in the foldyard resulted in a sprained or possibly broken leg.

Either way the calf could not bear any weight on the leg and was not in a position to get out of the way quickly if another cow threatened to repeat the unintentional assault.

The vet suggested that the best way to give the leg a chance to heal was to pot up the calf's leg that way immobilising and protecting the joint at the same time. Worked a treat.

In next to no time the calf was skipping around the yard, joining in the 'chase me chase me' games that calves love. Much to the irritation of their stolid Mums.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette March 4

West Sussex Gazette