Blind Darla wanted to live
and got the chance
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
Darla is now about three months old, and was born near Gut Aiderbichl Henndorfon a farm.
Darlas owners noticed right after birth, that the cow-calf had no eyes,and was therefore blind. Tdespite her disability,the young calf showed a fefewill to live. However,for a blind calfthere is unfortunately no place to keep them on the farm. So Gut Aiderbichlwas contacted, because they wanted to spare the cheerful Darla the trip to the butcher,and give her a good life at Gut Aiderbichl. Dieter Ehrengruberagreed to take her on, and here she is – Darla.
What is Darla like?
How does she react when you come into her stable?
Darla has a beautiful stable that is open to the courtyard and visitors can see the calf.
When I first visited Darla, she was lying comfortably in her straw bed, and immediately moved her earswhen I called her by her name: “Who’s this?”. Her blindness doesn’t seem to bother her. Darla listens for her name and, when you speak to her, she gently moves her head back and forth, trying to smell who is right next to her.
On my next visit, Darla greeted me with a soft, soft “Muuuuh“. Maybe she recognised me by my voice, or by the way I stroked her soft fur?
It’s nice to sit next to Darla in the straw and feel her warm body. She licks my hand as if in slow motion and is totally relaxed. When I want to leave the stable again, she gets up and follows me. Darla loves being stroked, rubbing her head against me and licking my hand.
When your eyes are blind, you have to search with your heart.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Darla doesn’t even know what the world around her looks like, but she can smell and feel it. The calf’s zest for life has also made her owner want to keep her alive. So he became one of the people who gave the weaker one a chance: Darla, the blind cow-calf, should live.
We Aiderbichler have learnt that blind animals have no problems with their environment and lead their lives in their own way and are happy. Animals are very social amongst themselves. So we can safely assume that Darla will be well received in the herd of cattle in Henndorf.
The blind cow in the herd of cattle
Just like in humans, the loss of one sensory system leads to more intensive use of the other sensory organs, especially hearing. How well a blind cow can orientate itself in the barn or on a pasture depends on the group size and the stability of the group. Constantly changing stable compartments would be a problem, as their orientation is based on memorised experience.
Our animal carers have years of experience with blind cattle, blind donkeys and horses etc. Darla will want for nothing, that’s as sure as the Amen in prayer.
Animals may not be able to write the word “love”, but they can show it all the better. – Every helping human makes the voice of the animals stronger and louder.
Sincerely, Your Gisela
