Cattle Probang

"This cattle probang is a tube to which there is a hollowed piece of timber attached to one end. It was used by my Grandfather, Thomas Tynan, to save an animal from choking. He was known locally as a 'cow doctor'. Back in the early 1900's cattle were foddered with pulped turnips and mangolds in Winter. Sometimes a chunk would get stuck in the animal's oesophagus and the cow doctor would be called to push the blockage into the stomach. There are holes in the timber end to allow air into the windpipe while this was being done. People depended greatly on their animals for their livelihoods. The loss of any animal was very serious and traumatic to the farmer. Every animal that was saved was vital to the household particularly on smaller holdings."