OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE Cattle to be used, not amused

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

— We got a pretty day and a pretty stiff breeze with it. I won’t complain a bit about the gusty wind, as my weather person assured us it would bring some moisture up from the gulf - Goody, and whoopee! I wonder if living life in this manner is worth it sometimes, and then we get a whiff of spring and my mind whirls like a roulette wheel back to the winning number! I know about roulette wheels from watching old Westerns!

My close relative is a wonder at making this house a home and doing a multitude of farming chores. She raised the offspring, taught them to work and pray and keeps me in line. But, and I suspect you knew that was coming, she ain’t worth a nickel at being practical when cattle are involved.She treats some of her favorites as pets, feeds them separately, names them and hangs on to the old hides until that is about all there is to hang on to, the hide!

We had a neighbor many years ago that ran some milking shorthorn cows. He sold milk and got a check every two weeks, was a really good neighbor and shared the cost of repairing fences. His family was first in his heart, andI doubt if he ever even raised his voice to a cow for kicking. We were the recipient of his bloodline by a meandering roguish cow that had come along with my close relative due to a scrawny calf she raised and her smart dad made her take the ugly heifer with her when she married. Maybe that is better than a cat because we could at least sell a calf if my close relative didn’t get too attached. She did attach herself to six heifer calves and therefore we have had some - correct that - a lot of color in her herd. She was kind about the whole thing and offered to share her herd, but I did not accept the offer. It was all embarrassing to me.

The original cow died and the heifers produced. They never missed a year and, regardless of how black my bulls were, they always colored their calves. Of course, most of them produced heifers. I was allowed to sell a very few of them and that was after a little crying and nose blowing. Guilt ran over the joy of getting rid of the animal and I had to just set my jaw and do it. The offspring always made comments about how tame those cattle were due to the work, yes, they said work, that the owner hadinvested in them. Double dip of guilt, thank you!

Sure the line was getting better and I was not as offended as I had been at first, but I still don’t appreciate the cows like I do my good ones. Well, they all make bologna when sold, but my cows produce what I expect. I’d about bet the buyers think hers are part Holstein.

There was a cow down and I could tell from the gate it was bloated. It was on a little slope and struggling to get up. I figured it was about done in and I hurried to get to her. It was one of the aforementioned bloodline and a really spoiled one at that. I grabbed her head and turned her around so she could get her feet under her. She got herself to a proper position and then, with the speed of a mad alligator, arose and hit mesquare in the chest.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, we should be compensated for the dangers we face every day taking care of dumb animals. The dire jeopardy of our chosen occupations is deep enough without adding the spice of stupidity! I am pretty sure cattle are to be used and not amused, buttered up only after they are sliced and diced, fed to become feed for us! My ribs are sore and my neck has a kink but I have a way to ease the pain. Now we have a cow to haul to the sale barn next time they open the door!

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

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/23/2011