Dead calf...

So on Monday, Nathaniel did a killer (so we could have an awesome BBQ) and he put the carcass in the usual spot that we use to trap dingos...

...then yesterday, after breakfast, we had a weaner aged bull calf that was lying on the driveway up to my house and he wasnt looking very good. He had a few coughs and was drooling, so Dad and I went up to him and gave him a few pats on the rump and he got up. He only took a few steps (and most of them were very wobbly) before he just stood still with his head drooping and he was still drooling. Anyway, we went off to work (on the farm) and got a call on the 2-way half an hour later saying that the weaner had just died! What's with that?

So we headed back to check it out and flipped him over and couldnt find anything wrong with him - we thought he may have swallowed a piece of wire (it happens) or something that may have punctured one of his stomachs (cows have 4 stomachs).

Anyway, we dragged him to the usual spot and did an autopsy on him. One of his stomachs was REALLY hard and VERY swollen, like a football! So we cut it open and it was like the contents had solidified in his stomach! A cow's stomach contents is pretty much liquid poo so the inside of this calf's stomach was like a poo you'd find on the ground about 2 days of it passing out of a cow. Wierd, eh?! BUT, the next stomach along was just fine, so we have NO idea what caused it, but we definately know what killed him...poor little bugger - what a way to go! AND he would have been worth around $300 at the next sales! Bugger it!

Oh well, at least it wasnt Emily or Patrick.

On a lighter note, today Dad and I went out first thing and checked the traps and we had caught a HUGE dingo - some sort of cross-breed German Shepard, so YAY us!! :)