Three things on my mind at once and, yes, I can handle it. I needed to fix the fence around the sick pen, put out some mineral and walk the old crippled steer to the lot. About two thirds of those things may be possible. The steers are sweet and calm until I really need them to be and today they need to be.
I don't know what happened to the steer. He is out of a good cow and the bull we bought two years ago. The thing I can't understand is he looked fine and healthy until about a month ago. I noticed him sort of hobbling along. He wasn't lame, didn't limp, but he hopped or something; his gait was out of sync.
I saw that both of his knees were bigger than normal but he was still doing fine, gaining weight and staying with the bunch. I kept him on my mind and started checking on him daily after that. He was off by himself a few days later and then he slowly got a humped look and was getting gaunter by the day. I thought of hardware but that wouldn't cause his edema.
This morning I was there at good daylight and he was in bad shape. I didn't figure he was fit to sell so I'd take him to the vet to see what we could do for him. That is a good plan and if I can walk him to the lot, that plan will work. But then, if I can't, I will have to chase the whole herd of steers around and lose probably 50 valuable pounds of high dollar beef to catch one sorry steer!
I fixed the fence and put out the mineral first and then ate lunch before I dared take on the job of gathering. I'd like to ride Snip but the Grands took him to town for a play day, along with the paint pony. Oh yes, they still like to ride when they can show how well they can handle a horse in front of their friends! One will rope, two will run barrels, and the paint will do whatever she can get him into!
I ate lunch and called the older offspring to come help me. He was plowing up a spot to plant turnips and said he would come over as soon as he could. I messed around fixing the feed room floor again -- gonna have to replace that someday -- and he finally got to the barn. We loaded up and drove to the gate, spotted the steers pretty close and he started to walk down to get around them. They eyed him but kept on grazing.
I got the gate closed and looked for the offspring. He was walking the other way, and then I saw the buzzards.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, some live and some die.
That steer cost us a thousand dollars at today's market but he died quick enough to save us a vet bill. I can't figure what happened to him but I never have seen it before and hope to never see it again. If I do, I will act much quicker.
Remember this: if you don't have any cattle you won't lose any! I'd rather keep on.
Bill is the pen name of the Gravette author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 08/27/2014