burnt
Well-known member
When the vet preg checked her last fall he said I shouldn't keep her even though she was pregnant. Too old, crippled and skinny and she's later than the rest, he said. Plus she probably wouldn't make it through the winter if she had to rough it outside with the rest of them.
Well we were down a few cows so I decided that I would baby her along since it wouldn't take that much extra and I had a corner in the big pen where I could keep her and feed her a bit of grain. She earned it because she always raised a smashing good calf so why not give her one more chance!
All winter I carried hay and a little bucket of ground oats and corn to her and put water in her pail since she had no access to the bowl. And she actually gained a bit of condition over the winter!
Yup, this year she calved 2 months later than the rest. But the bull calf she dropped was born half grown so he didn't even look smaller than the rest of the crop! And last week when we weaned he had caught up.
Because of her age, I didn't run her with the bull so today she got a truck ride with the rest of the culls. Kinda hard to see her go.
But her last offering was likely what I will remember the longest. As I slowly followed up behind her down the alley to the trailer she showed her appreciation for all my trouble - WHAM - she lashes out and gives me a bone-cruncher right on the lower leg . . .
How's that for pure gratitude!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Well we were down a few cows so I decided that I would baby her along since it wouldn't take that much extra and I had a corner in the big pen where I could keep her and feed her a bit of grain. She earned it because she always raised a smashing good calf so why not give her one more chance!
All winter I carried hay and a little bucket of ground oats and corn to her and put water in her pail since she had no access to the bowl. And she actually gained a bit of condition over the winter!
Yup, this year she calved 2 months later than the rest. But the bull calf she dropped was born half grown so he didn't even look smaller than the rest of the crop! And last week when we weaned he had caught up.
Because of her age, I didn't run her with the bull so today she got a truck ride with the rest of the culls. Kinda hard to see her go.
But her last offering was likely what I will remember the longest. As I slowly followed up behind her down the alley to the trailer she showed her appreciation for all my trouble - WHAM - she lashes out and gives me a bone-cruncher right on the lower leg . . .
How's that for pure gratitude!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: