water contamination -- maybe

After months of almost no rain, we got two gully-washers in a week. The IBC's in our rainwater catchment system filled up just in time, saving us the need of running cows on a long lane back to the spring.

All well, except -- a week later, first one cow, then another, showed blood, frank, red blood, in her manure. Unpleasant sight. Disquieting. Associated with an artificial insemination we would have known what to think, but as it was, we were puzzled, and one of us -- me -- lost sleep over it. Calls went out to two trustworthy vets, and two experienced grassfarmers, but bloody manure is an unusual symptom in pastured cattle, especially in intensive rotation: if it shows up at all, it is usually associated with the dirty conditions that may be found in a feedlot or confinement barn.

We'll probably never know what it was; it was over almost before we could notice it.

The only action we took: bleach in the rainwater catchment systems. Those two hard rains after a long dry spell may have been contaminated with bird manure build-up on the convent roof.

It may be a testimony to the health of our all-grass cattle that their health seems vibrant and unimpaired.