finally to settle the free martin worry

farmgirl6 · #1 08/24/11, 02:01 PM

Well, Monday the vet comes to draw blood, I would do it myself but the lab requires a certain type of tube and all three horses are due for a coggins so I figure just stick them all. Then I send off the blood to lab and answer the question once and for all. I just hope I like the answer

As to the calf I sold to a freind that I am now finding I bought from a lady famous for selling FM's as future milkers, I am trying to figure out how handle this situation....she thinks the cow was bred, and if she is I would like to avoid telling her I am a thoughless idiot for selling her an untested heifer, however I want to make it right if she is a FM, I will give her all her money back but I can't take Olivia back on my place, and not sure what do do after that....

I am clinging to the hope she is okay...when I bought Olivia from this now infamous lady she was four months old, halter broke, and had been working with her for milking for a family cow but was hugely pregnant and ill, she did demonstrate what she was doing and how well Olivia was doing, so either

a. she didn't know the calf was a fm if she is and was really planning to keep her
b.put on a good act
c.had the vet check her and make sure she was okay.
d. origionally thought she was okay but when she found out later she was a fm unloaded her on me as a "good replacement heifer".

CarolT · #2 08/24/11, 02:58 PM

Sorry, vote for b knowing she knew she was buying up a batch of heifers. Maybe d, but she's been around stock long enough I'd have to wonder at her not wondering how she got those heifers at such a good price. But I don't think a vet ever looked at it.

I don't care how pregnant, I don't know anyone who'd sell a weaned heifer when they had plenty of grazing to raise her on up where they could get a good bit more a few months later...

I'm hopeful yours is ok, so glad you're checking! And most dairies just sell twins without checking, so there's a _slight_ chance Olivia could be ok. I'd feel bad for Cheryl if she picked the 2 of the 3 that were sterile (If all 3 weren't).

The offer is still open for drawing blood for a test. I think I still have a couple of the tubes, but can get one if needed. Know I have the needles and syringes. Can do a pregnancy test or a fm.

Just tell your friend you only just found out and would like to know now if there's a problem. If she's a real friend, she'll understand, you bought her in good faith and sold it to her the same. If it were me, I'd consider you the better friend for being honest with me as soon as you found out how the woman had already taken advantage of someone. You didn't know then.

farmgirl6 · #3 08/24/11, 05:48 PM

I sent her an email today asking for an update on Olivia and told her I needed to chat with her in person about some concerns. I am absolutely paranoid she is going to, in the back of her mind, think I might have done it on purpose...I mean, I bought her, kept her for five months, had her dehorned and then sold her for less than I bought her for...just because I am a stupid softy who wanted to make sure she had a good home...sigh...and then what? It is not the money, I just haven't the room to take her back, and she keeps beef cattle and is not shy about sending one off that does not take to go in the freezer, which is her right, but makes my stomach hurt....

farmgirl6 · #4 08/24/11, 05:52 PM

Also she told me she origionally had four calves..course she is so full of bovine excrement who knows...

CarolT · #5 08/25/11, 01:52 PM

Personally, if she'd believe that, she's not a friend. And I bet she knows you know she has no hesitation in sending one off so you wouldn't have sent it there for "a good home". I'm afraid you may have to try not to think about it though, because, unfortunately, if she is FM, that is the best thing

farmgirl6 · #6 08/25/11, 06:02 PM

your right, next thing you know I will be paying to board her somewhere

I can just see my husbands face if I told him I was boarding a cow that would never be bred, I once paid $150 or so about 18 years ago to fly a hamster back from Germany, so we know I am not quite right...

farmgirl6 · #7 08/25/11, 06:04 PM

I told her if she couldn't keep her I would take her back, but I just don't have room...it was an offer, I certainly can't demand she give her back of course...God, I hope she is pregnant!!!!!!!

oregon woodsmok · #8 08/25/11, 08:18 PM

There isn't any use for a free martin except for the freezer. You aren't going to find a home that wants a pet cow as a lawn ornament for the next 20 years.

I suggest you adjust your expectations about what will happen to her.

Narshalla · #9 08/30/11, 11:56 AM

So, any news on the blood test?

farmgirl6 · #10 08/30/11, 01:58 PM

well, I am the one person who would board a useless animal, did I mention I have a pet Jersey Steer that is now nine years old

If I had more land I would not care, plus she would make a bunch more money selling her for beef so I doubt she will exercise the buy back option if she is a FM...If Annabelle is a FM she will just be a big pet...

farmgirl6 · #11 08/30/11, 02:00 PM

not yet...the lab just go AB's blood this morning, I figure at least a week to find out if my little lawn mower is viable or not, then I go through this with Olivia as well....