We gathered the bunch of cattle in the southwest pasture and sorted out a couple of old cows. I knew the old hides from birth and they have both been good producers and raised good, big calves. As with all things, time erodes and these two were getting too old to expect another year of healthy living and producing. I was pretty sure they were both long bred and, while still healthy, I wanted someone else to calve them out.

That brings up the ethical question. What is a producer to do with a cow that is, at the moment, healthy and bred but prolapsed last spring? What is the right thing to do when your cattle get old and you don’t want to take a chance on keeping them another year? I have dealt with this question for years. If I buy a cow at the sale barn, am I taking the chance of getting a defective animal? And, should the seller be inclined to divulgecertain information to the auctioneer, I would not buy the cow, the seller would lose a lot of money and the cow would go to the packing house.

Continue on, I bought the cow and the vet said she was in the second trimester, smooth mouthed and old, but I knew I was gonna get a calf in the spring. I was happy with my purchase and went on about my business. The cow calved in March and didn’t want to get up. Had a vet bill, she required carrying feed and water to her for 10 days, feeding the calf expensive milk replacer, and finally she got up and raised the calf. Now, the question is do I take her back to the sale barn or, when she expires on my place, have to dispose of acarcass. But remember, I had a nice big calf to sell. That is the question, and I still feel sort of sneaky when I sell an old animal.

Years ago we had a packer who would take the old animals and you didn’t have to take them through the sale ring to dispose of them. That was an ideal choice for me. I got some cash and didn’t pawn them off on another person. I no longer have that option, so I just grit my teeth and haul to town!

I had a keen desire to go see the feedlot cattle and enjoy the sight of fat cattle carrying our brand. It doesn’t do me any good to go and look, I don’t get any more information while I am there than I would over the phone. It is just a salve for the ego,and in this business it is a welcome treatment!

I begged and pleaded with my close relative to prepare for a trip to gaze upon our stock and she finally agreed. She is knee deep in pumpkin season, carving and decorating, baking cookies and breads and making costumes for the Grands. I promised a stop at the ice cream shop on the way home and she fi nally agreed. We left as soon as I finished the barn chores and had beautiful weather for the day.

The cattle looked good, gaining upwards to four pounds a day and about ready to go on the show list. The mixing of heifers and steers to feed was working much better than I ever imagined it could be. I wasnot in a hurry, so we drove around the lot and enjoyed seeing so many fi ne fat cattle. I didn’t want to think about the costs and, so, it was pretty near a perfect day!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, no matter the occupation, ethics are needed. If a feller is a ditch digger he has to be honest about how deep and long he has dug the ditch. We need to be honest and willing to do right because living with yourself isn’t an option. I want the folks who know me to trust me and I want to trust others.

Now I have to go load up another old cow.

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

Opinion, Pages 4 on 10/30/2013