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A dark day on the farm
26 November 2010 | 11:29 - By Matthew Evans
- 29 Comments | Join the discussion
Maggie fell ill and died. I don't want to talk about it.
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Comments (29)
09 Sep 2011 11:32 AEST
Verena
From Boonah
Hi Matthew, I am a farming Vet in Queensland and I watched last night's program with frustration. Hopefully you left a heap of Maggie's treament details out. If not - next time you have a cow with mastitis, there is so much more you can do. Firstly ALWAYS milk out the udder, otherwise the toxins stay in the cow. Secondly penicillin is the least effective antibiotic for black mastitis, there are plenty of others, and if your timeline was right, you had time to do a culture and get it right. V
12 Mar 2011 07:36 AEST
Jan
From Kilcunda
Matthew, my husband and I am so sad to hear that you lost Maggie. She was such a beautiful cow and we will miss her on your next series. I hope you have been able to move on and fall in love with your new milker. They are such gorgeous creatures, so gentle. All the bes, Jan and Tom
11 Feb 2011 10:05 AEST
Mandy
From Atherton
Hi Matthew,
I'm very sad to hear that Maggie has retired to the top paddock, I grew up on a dairy farm and have quite a few girls in the same paddock. What keeps us farming folk going is knowing that there will always be new life arriving on the farm. Maggie will always have a special place in your heart, and when you get a new girl you will find that she has a different beautiful personality, and fall in love all over again.
10 Feb 2011 07:52 AEST
Lawrence Family
From Nobby
Our delightful Jersery Girl Matilda is getting a little age about her now. This worries me as life without her is not something I wish to contemplate. She has provided so much to our family and we are eternally grateful. So, Matthew, I do hope you have been able to secure another gorgeous girl to carry on after Maggie. Life without a Jersery is a reduced life. Felicitations,
Oh Matthew, I'm so sorry. My heartfelt condolences.
23 Jan 2011 02:18 AEST
Mike
Hi Matthew,
Not a nice thing for sure. Though I've milked cows on dairy farms, the ones I have on my property currently aren't "milkers"; however, I have had dairy goats here that I used to milk, so I can understand the loss of such a relationship. Unless people actually experience twice daily milking, every day, they don't really understand. A privilege is how I see it.
Regardless of the cause, do not let it deter thee. All in all, the benefits outweigh the loses.
Regards,
Mike
10 Jan 2011 07:14 AEST
Vicki H
From Mudgegonga
Hi Matthew I am so sorry to hear of Maggie's sad demise.
I have just started out on a similar venture to you but in North Eastern Victoria. It is bloody hard work and as I am no longer a spring chicken the work really takes it out of you and each loss is heartbreaking.
Take care and don't give up just yet. It is actually all worth while
12 Dec 2010 11:39 AEST
Michelle Thomas
From Nairne SA
I am so sorry to hear that Matthew. I bought my first Jersey milking cow earlier this year, though I had never had anything to do with cows before and like you I have found life with a milking cow simply better than life without one. I hope you can find it in your heart to adopt another cow, so that another lucky animal will get to enjoy the kindness and nurturing you showed Maggie.
10 Dec 2010 08:43 AEST
Marilyn
From Merton
Sorry to hear about your loss, I know what it's like, having lost the calf, but not the mother and having to have my lovely milking goat Anouk put to sleep it very distressing. Life on the farm has its ups and downs, losses and sadness, that's because we are just hobby farmers and not born and bred Farmer who take it all in their stride.
09 Dec 2010 11:07 AEST
Margaret
From Armidale
Well, Matthew, that's how it is with farming I'm afraid. The unseasonal sleet we had here one October weekend which killed 20% of our baby angora goats and 10% of their mothers who were offshears, was pretty traumatic too. I was doing the wool classing course at the time and another student lost around 1400 sheep, partly from cold but also smothered as they packed up in a corner. His laconic comment when he turned up to class was "thats the last time I muster sheep with a bulldozer".
05 Dec 2010 04:18 AEST
Grant
From rosehill
Dear Matthew, Sorry to hear about your loss. How is the calf doing? Any updates much appreciated.
03 Dec 2010 04:05 AEST
kelly2cats
From Cabarita Beach
Maggie's eyes convey a beautiful, much loved soul. Bless her.
03 Dec 2010 03:53 AEST
Tina
From Fremantle
Animals break your heart Matthew just as much as a human does. Why is that?
03 Dec 2010 02:22 AEST
Dana
From Earlwood
Bugger.
I'm so sorry to hear about Maggie. This news has moved me to writing for the first time. (You have such a harem of female followers you don't need another). I would be pleased to see a follow up TV series. Is this a likelihood?
I can imagine how well loved Maggie's baby will be ........... and how dependant on you, all those night feeds ......
Welcome to Motherhood. There's nothing so rewarding! Enjoy this new life.
28 Nov 2010 02:51 AEST
Andrew
Matthew, I'm so sorry.
28 Nov 2010 08:47 AEST
Tania
From Sunnyside
So very sorry Matthew. Losing something you love is always devastating.
28 Nov 2010 08:34 AEST
Nam-Ha Quach
We are all feeling it for you Matthew. Hope you and the family are doing OK.
27 Nov 2010 03:33 AEST
Andrea
From Baffle Creek QLD
Oh Matthew, I am so sorry to hear about Maggie. She was such a big part of Puggle Farm and your family. I know its hard for you at the moment, but draw comfort in the fact that you were lucky enough to spend some of your lives together and that you gave her the best home you could. She was truly a much loved and well cared for Jersey and one of Puggle Farm's original founders. Remember the good times you shared, and give that little baby of hers all the love and care she would have. Chin up.
I wish I knew what to say...
26 Nov 2010 06:03 AEST
Rose
From Woonona
So sad to hear this Matthew.
I'm so sorry to hear this Matthew - she was a beautiful girl & I'm sure you will miss her a lot.
Will you be bottle feeding the baby?
26 Nov 2010 04:50 AEST
Michelle
From Gunns Plains Tasmania
Oh no Matthew that is very sad news. Maggie was a beautiful girl. At least she has left you with a beautiful Calf and lovely memories. Chin up you'll get through this. :(
26 Nov 2010 04:01 AEST
Laura
From Central Coast NSW
Mathew, my heart goes out to you. I so loved seeing Maggie about Puggle Farm and was so excited to see her baby, she will be sadly missed by us all.
My daughter said Maggie was awesome. Hear Hear.
With love from the Travis family.
Matthew, how sad for you all. As Sonia, said - at least you have her calf to carry on with. Cold comfort I know.
Joolz
26 Nov 2010 02:31 AEST
chris
Matthew my thoughts are with you, when I was a child growing up we had our own version of Maggie who we also sadly found dead in the back paddock one day. At least she had a good life whilst she was at Puggle Farm.
26 Nov 2010 01:16 AEST
Sonia T
From Huonville
I know the hollow feeling she will probably have left behind. A milker is the basis of a homestead, she is the giver of all she is. She is breakfast, coffee break and cool lunch drink, she is crackers and cheese, she is dinner ingredient and cream with dessert. She is the basis of the pigs feed. She is the soak in the baby chicks crumbles. She is both daughter and mother to your family and she will be so sadly missed. I have been there and back again a couple of times. My thoughts are with you.
26 Nov 2010 12:39 AEST
Sonia
From Greenway
So Sorry to hear that Matthew, you must be devastated. Maggie was such a beautiful lil Jersey. I'm glad you have her baby.
Take care.
Sonia
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