Paula Hynes: Farewell to the cow that got me started

Gawsworth Valerie with her new born calf this spring

An air of sadness descended upon the farm this week when my favourite cow, affectionally known as Val, closed her eyes for the very last time. 

She was bought in October 2011 as a maiden heifer and has some really historic breeding being one of the last calves born in the Gawsworth herd of Richard Woods on the Carrigrohane Road in Cork.