Herefordshire Ramblings
Uploaded March 2009

At last the weather is starting to change for the better, although some people down in the West Country have had more snow. We are starting to look at the January litters now in the hope we will have something good enough to show this season.

We had one of those days in the week that you would not wish on anyone, we were a little late this one afternoon and then we got caught by a passer-by who wanted to stop and have a chat. By the time we had fed what I call my bottom lot which are mostly Glos Old Spots the top lot who are all my Berkshire sows were getting just a little noisy demanding to know where their tea was.

We started to feed and noticed that one of the sows was bleeding quite badly she had been bitten on the vulva by one of the others. I got her inside and tried to stop the bleeding which was a steady stream coming from inside, one other most difficult places to treat. She was heavy in pig with only three weeks to go.

With my vet on the end of the phone who is just a star we managed to shove wads and wads of cotton wool inside and then I used a clip to hold the vulva closed. We shut her into a small pen where she couldn't move around to much bedded her up warm and left her for the night

My vet warned me that she might not make it if the bleeding did not stop. So it was with great worry that I went back to check her later that night. She was a lot better and the thankfully the bleeding had stopped. Sadly though the trauma and the loss of so much blood meant that most of her litter were stillborn and out of a litter of 11 we only had two live piglets which was pretty heartbreaking but at least I did not lose my sow and the vet says he does not see any reason for not to get back in pig.

As far as the Club goes, we are still looking for fund raising ideas from people. If you have any ideas please let one of the committee members know. I have the new Club leaflets here, and if you would like some please send me a Stamped addressed envelope (A4).

I did not get many entries for the Gillhouse Points Trophy which is a shame as it is a prize worth winning so maybe this year more people will enter.

Looking forward to seeing some of you at the AGM. It is always nice to meet new faces so do come if you can.


Sharon Barnfield - Club Secretary

The Moby, Hope Ashes Farm, Hope Mansell, Ross on Wye, Hereford HR9 5TJ
sharonbarnfield@ukfarmers.com | 01989 750079