by Texas Homesteader
In November 2010, RancherMan became a certified A.I. technician. Our plan was to sell our registered black Angus bull and start producing our calves using A.I. instead. In April 2011 we began to A.I. our registered Hereford cows. That cow bred with her first A.I. The result was our very first A.I. calf. How exciting!
We were so proud of her and of ourselves for accomplishing this task. Her mama is a good cow – attentive and nurturing. She helped this little girl grow healthy & strong.
We made sure she had all her immunizations then took her to the vet to receive her permanent ID and BANGS vaccination. Our little girl was growing up!
We recently received a call from a local rancher wishing to purchase her. He exclaimed as he drove off with her in his trailer “Wow, she sure is pretty – what a great addition to my herd”.
And THAT my friends is the full circle of why we do what we do.
I’ve been asked many times how I can keep myself unattached enough to be able to raise and then sell these animals. Especially since so much input is necessary to just produce the calf. I’m proud of this girl, the job her mama did, and the hand we played in getting her to this point.
Goodbye girl – you’ve gotten a great start!
~TxH~
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Love the full circle, and I agree that the cows on your land seem to have quite a good life!
Thanks Gretchen. While I respect other folks’ emotional attachment to their animals, I just wanted to voice our experiences. We enjoy our animals immensely and treat them very well while they’re here on the ranch but we don’t grieve their departure either. (again, probably because they’re destined to be long-term breeders at their next stop as well) Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks Jenny, we think she grew into an awesome heifer. I know she’ll do her new owners proud.
I think it’s wonderful! I raised my first meat birds last fall and it went better than I had expected.
Thanks for linking this up with the TALU!
Anne, I guess you never really know how it’s going to go until you actually raise and then sell them, but for me it was easier than expected as well. I think the difference is in the good life you give them while in your care. Thanks for stopping by.
What a beautiful cow! So many things can go wrong when raising calves. The dedication and diligence in her care really shines through! Outstanding!
Glenda, this girl was so exciting since she was our very first A.I. calf. Yep, we were like new parents following her around with a camera all her life! I’m so glad she’s going to a rancher that’s local, and I’m very proud indeed that she has grown into such a quality animal.
If I was a cow sister, I’d hope like anything to be born and grow up on the Taylor Ranch! Chuckle! You remind me of an extraordinary woman whom I admired very much and still do. Tasha Tudor.
Just a wisp of a thing who lived in a home built by hand by her son to resemble the time of 1830 complete with woodstove, lantern light, etc. She wore the prairie dresses of the time and went barefoot in the summer tending her animals and her garden. She loved her animals to the nth degree and every Christmas they always got something extra special for a treat. She treated them very well indeed the same as you do. She could always be found in the company of her beloved Welsh Corgi dogs.
She loved her solitude out in the country on her 26 acres and she knew what she wanted from her life. She raised her children well and gave her all to raise them right with love, happiness, and integrity. She was a very gifted storybook writer/illustrator/painter as well. Her heritage dates back to the early Bostonians and her family was well aquainted with the best known classic literature authors. She had a true love of God and country in her heart. She was a national treasure!
It takes a special kind of person to tend to God’s creatures with a heart set on the Golden Rule application, because of a truth, the animal doesn’t have a say in the matter and is totally dependent upon you for all the good that comes its way.
That being said, you and your husband are national treasures in my book after seeing the care this cow received. Anything we can do that brings a smile to Heavenly Father’s face is always worth the effort. So keep up the good work!
This Tasha Tudor’s got the right idea! I’ve often wondered if by some accident I was born 100 years too late, being of the late 1800’s mindset. imagine how thrilled I was to find this piece of paradise here in Wolfe City complete with an 1880 barn – meant to be! You flatter me Glenda, way too kind with your words. Always a pleasure reading your comments.
I get soooo attached to my animals, so I don’t think I could ever sell any that I’d raised. I do admire the care and attention you’ve given to your girl – it definitely shows! She’s a beauty.
Thanks Tammy – I certainly understand how people can get attached to their animals when so much care and attention goes in to them. Your kind comment is certainly appreciated!
It’s a lot easier when you know she has gone as breeding stock and not to the packing plant. You don’t get that healthy and strong looking a cow without having given it excellent care!
Exactly Maureen. And thanks for your compliment!
That’s a GREAT A I pun!! ( the “hand” we played in getting her to this point)
Its hard to raise them and sell them, but Ohhh so satisfying to see them in someone elses pasture with a new calf, doing what they are suppose to do. Hearing all the bragg’n about what great cattle you sell and stand behind, don’t hurt either… Good job. Good post.
Janis – LOL! Thanks for your kind words.
Okay – you will hate me but NO WAY. I am a vegetarian and I think it is because of my childhood pets. In the 2nd grade…my friends family raised cows. We would ride them and play with them….one night at dinner, her father proudly announced that we were eating “Rambo” my favorite cow. TRAUMA! I always had pet chickens, goats, and bunnies so I don’t think I could EVER sell them just because I get too attached. I understand why they have to be raised and sold…just breaks my heart! I am a softy!
Heather – No hatin’ at all – I understand your feelings. I guess for me it’s easier both because I’m an omnivore and because I know that I give our animals the resort-spa life while they are here. We pride ourselves on the treatment of our animals and they love us for it. Their needs come before ours and we make sure they’re happy and healthy. PLUS, most of the animals born and raised on our ranch are pure-bred registered breeders, virtually guaranteed to have many, many more years ahead of them. Thanks for your thoughts.