What happened next?

[Jac]

Having watched the weather forecast on the TV they were warning of severe storms including hail of apocalyptic proportions and knowing that calving was imminent I decided to fetch the cows that were due indoors as I did not want the other half to be soaked to the skin in the event that assistance was required. Checked them at bedtime... nothing doing so turned in for the night. As a rule I am a very light sleeper and wake at the slightest moo or moan to send my long suffering husband out to investigate. Last night I was 'out for the count' and was awoken at first light by the other half in a right flap. He had gone out to check the cows only to find devastation in one of the calving pens, a cow with blood coming from its back end, no calf in sight and no signs of labour.

[Jac]

I rushed outside to investigate and there was the cow casually eating her hay amongst the carnage as if nothing untoward had happened. Having determined that calving had taken place we could only conclude that somehow the calf had managed to escape through the bars of the gate at the front of the building. We let the cow out hoping that she would look for her calf but not a bit of it - she just stood there looking at us ( most surprising as she is normally very maternal).

So there I was in my night gown searching up hill and down dale for this missing calf and cursing the weather people for all I was worth as the terrible storm that was forecast failed to materialise - probably a good job we don't live by a road as some concerned person might have sent for the 'men in white coats' having spotted this old dear clearly deranged wandering around the fields in a state of undress.

As time went on with no success we began to fear the worst thinking that perhaps a fox had taken it but just when we were about to give up the calf was spotted round the back of a building underneath the cattle trailer partition with its back leg trapped up to its hock in a breeze block. It is a wonder its leg was not broken as it was lying on its side and unable to move. Of all the places it could have gone how did it find a lone breeze block and get stuck in it for pity's sake!

Freed at last, he was returned to his mother none the worse for his little adventure.

[Rob R]

Gotta love Dexters. Glad to hear that he turned up safe & well

[Tim Watson]

And he's being registered as Houdini?

[Jac]

And he's being registered as Houdini?

Absolutely. He hasn't gone far from his mother since - lesson learned.