OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE: Sore feet can lead to sore heads when a fellow least expects it

Sore heads and sore feet are on the docket this week. I have two cows and a steer in the sick pen due to limping and discovery of sores between their toes. The steer is weighing around 600 pounds and is not a nice feller. He wants to get me down and, although he outweighs me, I can still handle a three legged steer.

Both of the cows are getting old but not marked to sell because they are constant calf producers. A cow that will produce a calf every 12 or 13 months is darn sure profitable to a small cattleman like me. The younger of the cows is the most endangered one of the two. Her toes cross and it looks like she has stepped on a sharp stick and embedded part of it in her foot.

I spend about two hours morning and night penning and doctoring the sick. I try to stand each affected hoof in a bucket of warm water and disinfectant for about 10 minutes. Works pretty good on the cows.

Now we will talk about the sore feet causing a sore head. My head, in particular, is the subject. I was sorely tempted to try to keep this to myself, but I fear the boys at the coffee emporium have already opened the envelope and had a good laugh.

I had the steer in the alley behind the chute and an iron bar to keep him there. You know how they buck and lunge, hit the bar and faunch around, so I didn’t pay too much attention to him as I took care of the cow ahead and had her sore foot in the bucket. I was feeling pretty good about how easy she was to handle and how much better her sore was.

Open the gate and open it wide! I let the cow out and the silly steer had pried open the back gate. He had the drop gate high enough to get into the squeeze chute and was hell bent for leather as he headed out. I was surprised but able to slap the gate shut, catching him by one front leg and his neck. I can’t rightly recall exactly how the whole thing played out, but he put his little hoof print right in the middle of my forehead!

I woke up to a very exasperated voice saying something about calling 911 and don’t let her come out here! I struggled up and, when I opened my eyes, I had perfectly clear vision but there were two of everything. I did get the offspring calmed down and nixed the call for medical help. Sitting on the ground and taking a long drink of cold water was what I needed, and eventually the two images melded into one. As things eased up, the offspring started giggling about the wreck and I knew I was in for a heck of a razzing.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, working alone is OK if you know someone is near or will be checking on you in a short time.

I had been out so long the steer was almost down due to heat and stress, maybe for close to an hour. I know I have done this sort of activity for nigh onto a century, but accidents are never planned. Take it easy and plan on being slightly more careful than in the past. I intend to do just that!

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

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/17/2013