Hermina
A cow that came to stay forever
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
On 1 November, Markus, the manager of Gut Aiderbichl, had a visit to the estate. On 1 November, Markus, manager of Gut Aiderbichlin Carinthia, had his day off and was walking through the streets, when he received a phone call: “The cows have escaped, there’s a white cow wandering around, it certainly belongs to Gut Aiderbichl …”. Markus couldn’t even imagine that the cows weren’t at the farm.
The fence to the Aiderbichlercattle was destroyed. What was going on there?
Hermina had come to stay
Nobody knew where Hermina, a two-and-a-half-year-old Holstein Friesian, had suddenly come from. She must have but someone missedherin the stable.
The owner could be traced thanks to Hermina’s ear tag. At least he now knew where his Hermina had gone. Two attempts were made to pick up Hermina with the transporterbut they were unsuccessful: Hermina switched to stubborn and petulant, and besides, it was raining cats and dogs, so it was far too dangerous to try to load the cow.
Hermina’s signal
When you’ve been around animals for as long as Markus has, you don’t react logically and simply return the cow to the farmer. He knew it, Hermina had broken through the fence to stay.The whole back story is a bit strange. Hermina was with her herd on a summer pasture near Gut Aiderbichl in Carinthia, and was due to be brought home. When she saw the trailer, she looked around and suddenly took off. She disappeared into the forest. The next day she was found with the Aiderbichl cattle Obelix, Skippy, Helios, Manjana, Sebi, Karla and Lisa. It was obvious that she didn’t want to return to her original herd.
Hermina had chosen her new forever home and wanted to stay
Hermina couldn’t get Markus out of her head. Dieter Ehrengrubersaid: “Have you got room for Hermina?”. Of course there was room for Hermina, and now the negotiations with the organic farmer began. Hermina was allowed to become an Aiderbichler, because she had chosen this place confidently and on her own initiative. The farmer didn’t want to stand in the way of her happiness and told us: “Hermina is pregnant”.One more self-confident, beautiful cow at Gut Aiderbichl
Hermina is new to the herd, but is holding her own and can no longer be driven away. One, who has taken a particular liking to her is Obelix. The five-year-old ox comes from an organic farm in Switzerland. He has a very special character: Obelix loves people, goats and chickens … he makes friends with everyone around him.
Hermina probably feels a special affection for the black, mighty Obelix with the white heart on his forehead. It also looks a little like he’s protecting her.
Hermina, her new herd and all of us waiting for the calf
In the next few days, Hermina will give birth to her calf. We all hope that she has a healthy calf. And one thing is also clear: Hermina will be a great mum cow, and her calf will drink the milk and grow up to be a healthy cow. Both of them will live at Gut Aiderbichl – as they always have: until the natural end of their lives.
Hermina will spend her time in a large, cosy calving pen until she gives birth.
How little noise the real miracles make.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
