2 Women on 2 Acres

They told us in a Sky and Telescope Article in 1946 that the phrase ‘Blue Moon’ is derived from Mother Nature’s gift of enabling two Full Moon Phases to fall in the same calendar month and as this is a rare event, occurring roughly every two to three years, the saying ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ is based on this happenstance, and used colloquially to describe any event or circumstance which is considered a rare event.

January 2010 has been one of those rare lunar events and we have had two Full Moon Phases in one calendar month. The first Full Moon Phase in this event is referred to a ‘Rose Moon’ and this fell on January 1st and the second Full Moon Phase, the ‘Blue Moon’, began it’s cycle again on January 31st.

In 1999, the media’s attention was captured by the unusual pattern of two Full Moon Phases falling, not only in one, but, in two separate months that year: January and March which naturally, left February without a Full Moon Phase at all. This lunar phenomenon triggered the public’s interest, for it appeared, it was the first time the public’s attention had been brought to our skies to notice this lunar oddity.

Following widespread media coverage of the event and an article written by Phillip Hiscock a folklorist, who told the World about the definition of a ‘Blue Moon’, a Universal acceptance arose to embrace the second Full Moon to fall in one calendar month as being referred to as a ‘Blue Moon’.

Roger Sinnott et al, writing for a publication called Sky & Telescope in 1999 disagreed strongly with the article written by folklorist Philip Hiscock, and told the World ‘The trendy definition of a ‘Blue Moon’ as the second Full Moon in a month is a mistake.’ But, the hilarious part of the tale is it was THEIR mistake all be it from 53 years ago…
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Bloat in cattle is a serious life threatening condition. My house cow Mia has been lucky, she got bloat last week and it has dissipated with a little work from her to dislodge the trapped air.

The kind gentleman from Environment Waikato noticed it when he came to investigate spray drift damage on our property, thank you for the warning and all the advice you kindly gave me, he used to be a dairy farmer, funny that!!

I had noticed her right side was very ‘balloon’ like in the morning and had kept a beady eye on her, I was hoping she was definitely pregnant and was getting ready to deliver. The thought had crossed my mind that she may have over indulged on the tender spring grass, so I was watching, but to tell you the truth, bloat hadn’t entered my head.

We were subjected to a display of leg stretching, rolling and stampeding around the paddock at high speed with legs askance as she jumped and twisted around. I kept a close eye on her from a safe distance, but I admit, I didn’t enter the paddock while the display was happening.

This is because she scares me when she runs towards me at full tilt and comes skidding to a halt just a hairs width from my face. And believe me, if you have never had 4 tons of cow barreling towards you, it IS scary!

Mia

So what is bloat ?

And how can you tell if your cow has it ?

And what do you do if they have?

This article is for information purposes only, it is NOT intended to replace a professional diagnosis or recommended treatment from your vet.

So please if you EVEN think your cow or cattle have any signs of bloat, RING YOUR VET immediately.

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