Update on Skye

The vet met me this pm to remove Skye for a PM. We had a very close look at her and it seems she had suffered a significant bout of diarrhoea, and could have simply become dehydrated.

The vet wondered if it was the new grass, but she'd only been on that for a few hours. I wonder if she had been down for a few days and the move plus new grass had stressed her further.

The vet said she'd treated a few calves over the past few days for the same thing.

I recall that yesterday Skye's legs were muddy - on closer inspection it seems like she had dried in diarrhoea. So I am kicking myself about that.

Gerry did get close to her yesterday to urge her into the catch pen, but they all had muddy legs so we obviously missed hers being different. And it was so cold she didn't smell bad either.

Yes, I am beating myself up. And little wonder - she was a cracking breeding female in the making. Calm, and with the nicest bright, crimpy fleece.

We got blood tests back on four of the animals (a sample) to check the copper levels. They were on the high side of normal but still within the acceptable range.

As a precaution we're going to get the whole herd tested shortly.

Ironically, some of the other animals were skipping and kicking their legs up today. Not Morven - she had her sore leg inspected and it seems she has big wodges of crust stuck in folds of her skin, which could be causing some pain or awkwardness. She got antibiotic and antiinflamatory injections, sprayed with Frontline and vaselined.