Chapters 38-40 Summary

In Chapter 38 Herriot admires Frank Metcalf's cows as they stand in their new byre. Metcalf has built this modern dairy barn himself and is very proud of his accomplishments. Herriot and Metcalf both believe the new byre represents a new start for the dairy farmer. Unfortunately Metcalf's cows mysteriously begin to abort their calves soon after they are moved into the new byre. Herriot diagnosis Contagious Bovine Abortion, a disease for which there is no vaccine for cows already carrying calves. Because the cows carry their calves full-term, this negatively affects their milk production. In the end, Metcalf has only three cows in his entire herd that carry their calves full term. He has no calves to rebuild his stock and the cows he does have aren't producing enough milk to make a living. Metcalf decide to give up dairy farming...