Fuck! “Yes, they were cleared of any visible defects or illnesses. Obviously they weren’t checked for this though.” How stupid. He looked at the animals and shook his head. The buck and three of the does had started to show signs of diarrhea and looked as though they were slowly wasting away when they should have been putting on weight with the amount of feed they were eating. The others would no doubt soon show the same symptoms. Even if they didn’t, it would make no difference, they could be carriers.
“We don’t see if very often, but when we do it’s hard because there’s nothing we can do. You do realize it’s a notifiable disease under legislation, don’t you?”
“Yes.” His jaw clenched and he thanked goodness he’d kept them apart from the rest of his herd for so long. A full herd loss would have been devastating. It was bad enough losing the ones he had such high hopes for. What a stuff up.
“I’m pretty sure of my diagnosis based on what you’ve already told me. You have the choice of getting them tested, although I think most of them will die before we can get the results back. It’s your call.”
Adam sighed, pained for the animals as well as the halt this would put on his dream. “I can’t let them suffer anymore. It wouldn’t be fair.” This is the worst possible news.
“Did you want me to put them down for you, or will you…”
“I’ve got it, thanks.” He knew his way around a gun. Hunting had never been the buzz for him it had for his father, but right now he thanked his old man for at least teaching him how to kill an animal humanely. It was going to be gut wrenching to sight these animals and pull the trigger, but to pen them up and use the crusher to hold them and then euthanize them would be more traumatic, for them at least.
“Want me to take a quick look at the other flock while I’m here? I don’t expect anything to be wrong with them because you would have known about it by now, but it might ease both our minds if I do.”
Just don’t give me any more bad news. “Thanks, I would.”
“You didn’t get them at the same place did you?”
Adam shook his head, thankful for that small mercy at least.
Max picked up his bag and followed Adam down to the other paddocks at the back of the house. They leaned on the fence and watched as the deer hurried over expecting a feed, their tiny feet prancing in the long grass as they approached Adam. When he offered them nothing they pawed at the ground and snorted.
“They all look bright eyed and bushy tailed to me. I’d recommend not putting anything in that other paddock for the next twelve months if you can avoid it. Not saying it’s the best way to clear out the disease, but I find it the most effective way if time consuming. And you’ll have to burn the carcasses too. Just to make sure nothing digs up any of the animals and drags it away to another area. A wild dog or something like that.”
“Yeah, I hear you.” He heaved a great sigh and slammed his hands on the fence rail. “How could my luck be so damned bad as to get hit with this? It’s rare as far as I know. Why me? What have I done wrong?” Give me something to work with.
“Look, the guy you brought them off might not have any idea himself. I’m just giving him the benefit of the doubt here, understand?” He scratched at his moustache and thought for a moment. “He will be checked out though, you can be certain of that. I’ve only ever seen this a few times before myself, but I do know that an animal can be a carrier and never show symptoms. You could have bred this lot and raised a fine flock of young ones only to have them all die before they were weaned. It’s just too hard to check for. Bloods do show the disease but it takes a long time and isn’t really all that conclusive in a lot of cases.”
That’s hardly useful. “I appreciate your help, Max. Guess I’d better get on with it then. Not a job I ever thought I’d be doing but it has to be done.” He shook the vet’s hand and walked him back to where his car was parked.
“Heard you had a great night in the old dairy last Saturday. Kind of sorry I missed it. The tickets were all sold out by the time I heard about it.”
Adam looked at the building, remembering one of the best nights he’d had for a long time. “It was fantastic. You could be in luck though, Lena is going to start up a restaurant here soon as she can organize it. You’ll have to make sure you come out then. The woman is a brilliant chef.”
“I will. Sorry I couldn’t be the one to bring you better news, Adam. Call me if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Max.” He watched the vet leave, the disappointment weighing heavily on his shoulders. As Adam stood there, he ran through his mind the process of putting down his herd. He would have to make a large bonfire. Just as well he had trees felled a few months back. A couple of hours with the chainsaw and he could build a pyre right in the paddock. No point moving the animals to contaminate another paddock leaving it unusable for another year.
Nothing for it. He headed to the barn and filled the chainsaw with fuel before loading it
