So I buys me a cow for $375.00.

[Whitewing]

She was loaded in the truck and headed for slaughter when I saw her one night parked in front of this guy's meat market. It was dark out but I still liked her looks...big and square....perfect for crossing with my Charolais bulls. And I swore I could see a calf kicking away as she stood there. This was the first week of November.

Anyway, I asked the guy what he wanted for her. He said she was a young cow that he'd picked up with a group of cattle and really didn't want to slaughter her and that I could have her for 3,000 bolivares (or $375.00 using the black market exchange rate). I liked the price because most sellers here ask 6,000 bolivares and up for decent mestizo cows.

We did the deal and the next day she was at my place.

Just last week the boys told me she was "filling up" and sure enough, this past Tuesday she dropped this little fellow, 58 pounds at birth.

Decent udder and so far her milk production seems to be excellent.

I'd sure like to buy some more cows at that price and have 'em drop a calf a month later.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

That must be a diamond on her head.

 

[Whitewing]

That must be a diamond on her head.

Or as my dad would say, "what, no pearl in her mouth?".

 

[canadian angus]

What I notice in your pictures, snow fence is varying degrees of used to be good items. Watch out for the bed springs though, cattle do get caught up in them!

CA

 

[Justin]

with the calf, the cheap cow got cheaper.

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

What I notice in your pictures, snow fence is varying degrees of used to be good items. Watch out for the bed springs though, cattle do get caught up in them!

CA

Ok your post confuses me....I see no snow fence....and I see no bedsprings. ???

 

[Whitewing]

What I notice in your pictures, snow fence is varying degrees of used to be good items. Watch out for the bed springs though, cattle do get caught up in them!

CA

Ok your post confuses me....I see no snow fence....and I see no bedsprings. ???

He's probably just referring to the hodge-podge of materials we've used to construct those corrals. And he has a point. :?

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Hey....as long as it works....most of us here know you are in the process of construction on alot of your ground.....it don't all happen at once.

 

[Whitewing]

Hey....as long as it works....most of us here know you are in the process of construction on alot of your ground.....it don't all happen at once.

Thank you, and you said a mouthful. You really don't know how much I appreciate that comment.

The first thing most Venezuelans ask when they see my place is, "why haven't you built a home and swimming pool". That's because for most Venezuelans the ranch is nothing more than a place to hang out for the weekend and get drunk.

Most of the money I've spent on the place has been to clear land, construct ponds, install an irrigation system, plant pasture, build fences, etc. As I tell my crew constantly, we're here for the animals....if we can't care for them, then I'll just sell the place and we'll all go home.

 

[Liveoak]

Are you gonna fatten that gal up, Whitewing? Or do they normally come that way?

 

[hillsdown]

That's a pretty calf, look almost like a Pinzgauer .

 

[canadian angus]

If you look behind the cow licking herself it does resemble a bed spring.

A little story behind bedsprings from my youth. Charolais where just coming into Canada and any and everything was being used as a Charolais Bull. The early ones came from the USA with a strong Bramha influence.

Our neighbor had used just such an animal and they did have speed, even off so called quiet herefords. In April they called and asked for help to process the calves. When arriving we found out it was not this years calves but last years. Horns, testes, to be removed, and then branded.

As you can imagine in the poorly built corral and poorer headgate, the Gong show had nothing on this. As the day progressed the remaining cattle got faster, patience grew thin.

As the last few were being pursuaded to go in the chute one spied a bed spring filling a hole. Yep he headed for it with great speed, leaped in the air and dislodged it from the fence, but did manage to get up to his shoulders into it. Never stand or try to stop a fast bed spring with a yearling bull in it.

As we saw him last he hit two very large poplar trees, in slow motion he went forward slowed down, those old bed springs started to pop, the proud bull dislodged himself and ran over the hill. Never did find out what became of him.

CA

 

[Whitewing]

Are you gonna fatten that gal up, Whitewing? Or do they normally come that way?

She arrived on the thin side and had been nursing for a few days when I snapped those shots of her.

Yes, I will do my best to fatten her up as I like all my cows to be pleasing to the eye. Having said that, I've got a few that just don't ever seem to fatten though they produce good calves and plenty of milk every year. I guess it's just in the genes.

 

[Liveoak]

Are you gonna fatten that gal up, Whitewing? Or do they normally come that way?

She arrived on the thin side and had been nursing for a few days when I snapped those shots of her.

Yes, I will do my best to fatten her up as I like all my cows to be pleasing to the eye. Having said that, I've got a few that just don't ever seem to fatten though they produce good calves and plenty of milk every year. I guess it's just in the genes.

Yes, I've had a few like that too. The Brahman gene is know for showing some rib but their lean like that anyway. For $375, you made a sweat deal!

 

[Whitewing]

Are you gonna fatten that gal up, Whitewing? Or do they normally come that way?

She arrived on the thin side and had been nursing for a few days when I snapped those shots of her.

Yes, I will do my best to fatten her up as I like all my cows to be pleasing to the eye. Having said that, I've got a few that just don't ever seem to fatten though they produce good calves and plenty of milk every year. I guess it's just in the genes.

Yes, I've had a few like that too. The Brahman gene is know for showing some rib but their lean like that anyway. For $375, you made a sweat deal!

There's definitely a lot of brahman influence down here in the mestizos, that's for sure.

And I was really pleased with the deal. I suspect now that the fellow who sold her to me is counting on doing more business with me as he's seen my cattle and really liked them. BTW, the name of his meat market is Carniceria Charolais.