OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE A good momma is priceless

Drove very slowly around the pastures checking fences and looking for all the cattle. I did want to find all the cattle. All the cattle is a phrase that means the cows and the calves, steers, heifers and bulls. I am a little stressed by the blizzards of ‘11 and the droughts of ‘10 and the upcoming spring with ponds dry.

Finding them, the cattle, all of them, was on my agenda because I had not accounted for all of them in the last couple of weeks. I had two old cows I could tell had calves and they were not accounted for. That is close to enough money lost to make a bank payment. A feller in my position, broke and in the hole, needs to find all he can.

My hands always sweat when I am tense. The steering wheel was getting sticky when I stopped to open the gate at the pasture that adjoins the cow pasture. The weeds are coming on fast with the sunshine we are occasionally seeing now. I was wishing it was grass but at least nothing but God cankeep spring from springing. Markets go up and down and calves get lost, but spring comes without any help or harm.

I went to the west side of the pasture first because there is timber along the east fence. Had to stop and repair the fence due to the old wooden posts that are rotten. I wanted to turn the cows over in this pasture but needed to find the lost first. I put the truck in low and rolled along slowly.

The south side of the fence was fine, new steel posts a couple of years ago had been a requirement if I wanted to keep cattle on our place - which I did!Then, turning up the east fence line through the timber, I could see the cows all hugging the fence line. They do strange things because they are bovine and think with little bovine brains, so I didn’t think it was too unusual.

There they were, the outlaws, big black healthy calves, sucking their mommas through the fence. Both of the old cows had sidled up to the fence and cocked their hind legsso they could feed the shameful babies! The two were stout and as healthy as any in the herd. I suspect they were born very close to the fence and sorta sidled under after the first day or so.

The herd of cattle had been looking for timber to stand in during the snow, blizzard, and these two got under the fence. The old cows, mommas for several years, were good enough to allow milking through the fence. What a deal!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, a good mother is worth more than silver and gold. Mine was a dear and I knew it because my pappy told me pretty regularly. I knew it anyway; she made it loud and clear by the way she lived. Actions do speak louder than words.

The two old cows with outlaw calves will live a few more years on this rock pile. They have proven their worth and secured their place at the feed trough. I am so thankful to be a cattleman when I witness good things, and this was one of them. I turned the cows into the pasture and watched the calves run and play for half an hour. Makes me a happy feller.

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/02/2011