GRAVETTE — The time of heat, dust and grasshoppers is upon us. I wish I could think of one good use for hoppers and thistles, but I know I can’t.
I did hear of one person from upper New York who complained about the mowers on the right of way because they were mowing down those pretty purple flowers. Makes me sorta sick to my stomach.
I ate a large portion of dust yesterday as I was riding drag on the herd we were moving. I must preface this by saying that the grass had completely dried up and even the weeds had dried in that area. Therefore, we were moving the steers, and I saddled up old Snip for the job. Needless to say, the offspring saddled up their dang old four wheelers androared around like they were grown to the seats of the machines. The cattle react differently than I do; they accept the monsters, as the offspring have been on them for years.
I hang back and let the others do the work, ride drag and look at the stock with an eye out for any that are not doing 100 percent.
The steers are weighing an average of 775 pounds and will soon be leaving home. I hope the prices continue to stay in the upper categories and I can pay some bills. My banker always smiles when he sees a load coming through town, and his fingers twitch in anticipation.
I did ingest too much dust and my head hurt all night. Got up this morning and coughed up about an acre, washed out my digestive tract with some hot strong coffee and now I am much better. The old horse is all snotty today, snorting and wheezing like a steam engine. I may have to call the faithful horse doctor for Snip. You know if I was in dirt, he was too. How much dust does it take to bring on dust pneumonia?
The steers were ready to move and didn’t give us any trouble to speak of. We moved them to the trap first for counting and running through the scales,a chance to determine an approximate sale date and to see if any needed any meds. The only problem was watering eyes and coughing, one with a toe problem and lots of flies.
Have you ever had to file on a problem hoof of a big bovine? It is not an easy task and certainly not a party. We tied up the front leg and got another rope to tie his hind legs as with hobbles. I hate the smell of the grinding on the old hooves but we finally got the job done. I was plumb wet and both the offspring were getting cranky by the time we finished. One of them shoved the other one out of the way and thatbrings on bad comments every time!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, some of the work we dislike is the work that helps us keep body and soul together. The cross-toed steer will not be crippled and will bring a lot more than if he’d been left as was. Steers fighting flies cost us more than the insecticide and effort it takes to use it, and Snip and I needed the exercise.
Hot days are for sitting in the shade and saddle soaping your gear. Drink lots of iced tea, sweetened preferably!
Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/18/2012