'Of the individual animals there are many memories.

When Blondie, the original Charollais heifer came of age, my mentors and I studied the Charollais stud book, finally deciding for conformity on the bull Clovis. Understandably, Blondie didn't think too much of the AI man with his plastic gloves and syringe but when the final day arrived and the vet had done his midwifery, she was over the moon with what she had produced. The calf was pure white, large and well formed by any standards, and was named Snowman from his colour and the farm's name. When the time came to remove his horns I kept one and have it mounted on my bookshelf.

He grew up to be an enthusiastic father, throwing well formed white calves. In fact he was too enthusiastic. Unthinkingly I had kept the young age group stock together in one shed for ease of feeding and management. The scheme worked very well, the animals all of an age and forming well into a group, and was peaceful. But just like children, the time to take notice is when they are too quiet, and one day the vet had to visit and abort seven heifers who, like Snowman, were really too young. He was separated and installed between his mother and Buttercup, the herd seniors, who duly kept him in order.

The neighbour's approved of him too. One day I had a call to fetch him back home as he was with their cows. There was no grumbling or recriminations and I never did discover how he managed to get through the boundary fence. However, I called him and all one ton of him followed me home very quietly, obviously very happy with the day's outing'.