It is a painful experience to lose an animal

That frost that clings to your lips and makes your eyes feel like frozen grapes, the kind that skims the water tanks with that first glaze of ice and threatens to stay all day, that is the one that is around this morning.

I could hear the little blades of grass break as I stepped on them, the crunch was reminding me of the bones in my fingers and knees. I think winter has set in to stay for the duration and I am not happy about it. I like the days of sunshine but no one in the control portion of the weather asked my opinion, even though I always have one!

I checked the steer pasture first and, sure enough, there was one that was humped up and his ears were droopy. He had scoured and was gaunt and needing some TLC. I was glad he was ready for the barn. He was easy to cut out and he headed up to the pens. I always feel like the feed we pour is cash well-spent if the cattle will handle easy.

Cattle aren't cheap right now, and for that many a poor man is happy. I mean poor as in no money in his pockets or in a bank. I, being one of the blessed, am never far from the line between poor and all right. Therefore, that sick steer was a valuable critter and in need of assistance in order to continue drawing air.

I got the steer in the squeeze chute and dosed him with a bag of electrolytes and a double dose of stuff that is supposed to check scours in three minutes or less. He was weak and easy enough to handle.

I opened the chute gate and he stumbled out and fell dead. I am here to tell you that I should have checked the cows first. I would have saved the medication and could have drug the carcass off into the Death Valley gully instead of having to load it and haul it off.

I did not grieve long. As the life left his body and he cooled down, I saw the money drift off in the cloud of steam as the heat left his body. Now you have and now you have not. Is that a quote or did I invent it?

I called the offspring to come over to the pens and assist me in loading. They were on the north end of the place and busy, but thought they could be around in a couple of hours. I was not too proud to go to the house and drink coffee while waiting. It was and still is cold out there today.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, it is a painful experience to lose an animal that has already cost a large amount of money to raise. I could go deeper into the costs, but you know what I mean. And yet, if you don't have them, you won't lose them.

I'd rather be in this profession than any other on earth. I will have to expound upon the many disgusting things in some of the highly-educated professions such as doctors and lawyers some day!

Just keep on keeping your fences tight!

Bill is the pen name of the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.