Never fun when one animal is isolated from rest of the herd

Country Living with Francis Farragher

A few weeks back one of the heifers strayed from the herd and made an opportunist visit into a neighbour’s field. She wouldn’t have been known for her rambling ways, but a gap in the wall compliments of a windy night, presented the opportunity of a visit and the red heifer couldn’t resist the temptation.

All year, she had been a very reserved member of the small herd with pretty close to impeccable behaviour . . . well that is by the standards of any athletic Limousin.

The day of reckoning came when she had to be brought home after her wanderings and, in the process, isolated in a pen before being loaded onto a trailer.

Isolation did not suit this beast. From being a perfectly settled member of the herd (whether it be her own or the neighbour’s), she transformed into something of a raging bull when isolated on her own.

Only for the solidity – and height – of the neighbour’s pen, she definitely would have made her escape but when she was returned to her own gang, civility was restored, and she barely raised her head the next evening when the daily count and inspection was made.

It made me wonder about social interaction not only in the bovine world but in the space us humans occupy as well.

I don’t know how many times over the past few months I’ve remarked that, ‘I haven’t seen such-a-one for ages’, but of course there have been ‘such-a-ones’ all over the place for the best part of the last two years.

Admittedly, our escapes from Covid ‘house arrest’ have gradually evolved into more prolonged and less restricted   interactions with other humans (I hope I’m not tempting fate!) but still, a face that hasn’t been seen for a year or two, seems strangely unfamiliar.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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