Julie Blog #15

THE CATTLE TRUCK drove through the approaches to the city in the early hours of the morning. Janet was fast asleep, waking only when the racket of the motor ceased within the showground gates. Drowsily she helped unload the cattle, fed and watered them, and crawled into her sleeping bag between bales of hay on a shelf above the cattle stalls just as dawn was breaking.

Days of ceaseless hard work followed. Mrs Gayle’s team consisted of four heifers, two cows with calves, and six bulls. All had to be fed and watered three times daily, as well as being washed, vigorously brushed dry, and walked. The old station hand who had driven the truck was more ready with advice than offers of help, and Janet found herself with scarcely time enough to down the occasional hamburger and fruit juice. Visitors constantly strolled through the sheds viewing the cattle, and the area had to be kept spotless. Dung was taken up and disposed of almost before it hit the ground.

Mrs Gayle was often there, frequently with interested buyers. She always gave Janet a friendly smile, but a hint of steel beneath the affable surface kept even the old stockman hard at work brushing and sweeping until she moved on.

The weather was unseasonably hot and humid, and the loose bedding material beneath the cattle soon became permanently moist and began to reek. Several beasts developed coughs, running noses and loss of appetite, and the stalls at the animal hospital, began to fill up.

On the fifth day a rumour began to circulate through the sheds.

“A bull and a cow have died of a virus in the Hereford shed. They were taken away in the early morning in a covered truck. They’re blaming the bedding.”

Mrs Gayle appeared in a fine panic.

“All the bedding must go and be replaced with straw. Renew it every day. Walk the cattle twice a day and keep them outside as much as possible. Tie them up outside in any spot you can find.”

This last of course was easier said than done, and was accomplished only by constantly jostling for position with others, moving the beasts from narrow alleyways every time a vehicle needed to pass, and generally taking on the role of an unwanted refugee with a large family of clumsy, overweight children. Janet perfected the art of leading four animals at once, two leads in each hand, and took them for long walks through the showground.

Once they met a trio of camels with their riders. Three of the heifers shied and bucked with terror. The fourth was merely amazed. Pulling free from the melee she rushed over to investigate the camels, causing great agitation among them. Their riders had a far more exciting ride than they had bargained for when they paid their dollars.

Rising at dawn on the eighth day, Janet rummaged in her suitcase for a clean shirt and found the home-made ‘cocktail dress’ that Rebecca had pressed upon her. She passed it over with a wry smile.

This was the day that their breed was being judged.