Sad day here!!!

When I went to check the cows this morning I had an old Brood cow that has passed on. She was 22 years old. She had not had a calf for several years but she earned her retirement. She was the last of the heifers that my first wife helped raise. My wife always like the cattle. She checked them every day rain or shine , hot or cold. She always gave them some thing for a treat so they would follow her any where. This old cow would follow my wife like a dog would when the calf was just weeks old. My wife carried a curry brush an that heifer would just stand there and let her brush her for hours.

That cow/heifer would always come up to the Gator when my wife got too weak to be able to walk to check on the cattle any more. That cow would put her head in my wife's lap to get petted just like a dog. The old cow would also always bring her calves up to the house just as soon as they could walk that far. It was like she wanted to show them off to us.

That old cow mothered/raised 17 calves total. 12 of them where heifers calves. I kept every single one of them. A third of my 110 cows can be tracked back to her blood lines. She was not the biggest cow but she always weaned a good size calf. She also had so good of disposition that I want that trait in the rest of the herd. I want to have cattle that are easy to work with. I want brood cows that you can help calve with out ropes and gates.

I have the back hoe hooked up on the tractor. I am waiting for my daughter to get up here. She has a few hour drive but she wanted to be here to see "Mom's" last cow buried. I am going to bury that old cow on a high ridge that over looks the pasture. She then can watch over all of us for the rest of our days.

There are a few wet eyes here this morning too. Good Day.

I wonder if we'll ever know what it means that many animals are more precious than many people.

You're a good man JD. Not ALL animals have to "earn" their keep every year. Some of their contributions cannot ever be measured. Bless you and your family.

Thanks for posting that. I can feel your pain. Sorry she had to go.

That's especially hard, because of the link to your wife. Probably some wet eyes on the board, too- thanks for posting.

JDseller
Sorry your old cow died but then nothing is getting out of this world alive including ME. You're also correct about FEED. Most of the time feed works better on controlling animals than cowboys or herding dogs.

I understand.

Retired my first horse about 7 yrs ago. She carried me many, many miles and hours.

She's 26 now, got her when she was 4. Up until now, she didn't look her age. She really started to age this year. Gonna be real hard when I have to make that call to the vet.

JD,

Sorry for your loss, but I certainly commend your compassion. My oldest cow is 15 years old now. She keeps calving, but just like you, my plan is to let her live out her life on this farm no matter what. She was born here. She's never been off the farm. And when she dies, she'll die here.

She's always been shy around the feed trough, so I've always fed her separately. She's a kind old soul.

Bless you for your kindness.

Tom in TN

I hope every time you look over to that ridge you have happy thoughts and a smile to go with it.

Yes, it made my eyes wet. A parmanent living link to your wife has left forever. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Jim

I can see where that would make you and your daughter emotional. A lot of memories of your first wife tied in with that cow. God bless you with peace about it.

JD, sorry about your loss. Relatively few people realize just how intelligent cows can be. I'll have to admit, I had to wipe my eyes after reading your post.

So sorry four loss. Stan

That cow following her around reminds me of when I was about 15 and went to work for the neighbor. He had about 100 Angus cows, and I changed irrigation pipes (handlines) in the pastures.

The "senior" bull, Mike, kind of made me a little uneasy one day. As I'd uncouple a pipe, he'd stand there at the end I was uncoupling. Then he'd walk across with me to where I was moving it. Then back with me to the next one, and so on. This went on for 5 or 6 pipes, then he wandered off.

I grew up with dairy bulls, and well knew the danger there. I also knew beef bulls were a lot more docile, but it still concerned me a bit. He hadn't made a move toward me, but he was pretty big. . . And we all know the old joke of the bull chasing the two guys- "You know you can't outrun a bull"- "I don't need to outrun the bull- just need to outrun you!"

Reported it to the boss, and he and his son both started laughing. "Ole Mike wants you to scratch his head with the end of the pipe! We're all for getting things done in good time around here, but there's always enough time to scratch Mike's head if he wants it. He's earned it."

So after that, I'd always scratch Mike a bit- Eventually, I eliminated the middle man (pipe) and just walked up to him for a scratching. We got along fine.

Probably the best boss I ever had- RIP, Bob Thomsen (and Mike).

Sad to hear that, but thats a great heartwarming story to hear about that cow and how it even stayed loyal to your wife when she had to stay on the gator.

Its really tough to lose the animals sometimes. They become part of the family.

What a great story. Hope I go out like your cow when my time comes.All you can do is remember that cow lives on in your herd. And your Wife remains in that daughter who is coming home to be with her Dad.Don't understand how some would just call the renderer or whatever.Hope your visit with the daughter is special and you have many years left together.

You're a good man , JD , getting to be a rare breed now-a-days. That cow was pretty lucky , indeed.RB

Enjoyed your story and the other comments. One of my old cows never had trouble calving, neither did her daughters. I have one grand-daughter left, maybe a great-granddaughter as well. Was sad to lose the old one several years ago, like yours, she didn't show up one morning.
Sadly had a young one that way back in January.
Always like my cows to know what a feed bucket is - that has saved my hide more than once! Also, glad that they can learn that a truck horn blowing means some feed may be coming soon! All this a legacy of my 4-H projects and growing up on a small farm.

Lost one like that about a year and a half ago.

She was in one of the first groups of heifers granddad raised and kept after he retired from the oil fields. Not sure but she was over 20 years old as well. She was super friendly. Granddad always said she was the worlds smartest cow. She was the one that always came up to see what was go'n on when ever any one was in the pasture. You could ask her a question and then scratch her on the poll and she would nod yes or behind an ear and she'd shake her head no.

Every one should know at least one good cow in their life.

Hope life is better for you and your's in the morn'n.

Dave

Wow 22 is about the max for a beef breed isn't it? I am pleased to see you had such a change of heart lately. A few weeks ago you were on my case about putting down pet horses rather than the meat process- because you needed to inform me and a few others "they were just a livestock animal, like a sheep, hogs, chickens and.... cattle"? I am happy to see your old cow was not in the livestock category, but in the 'pet class' like dogs and cats.. and possibly some horses??

some folks will say "they"re only livestock" but when you live and work with them every day they become every bit human, and they share as much quality thoughtful time as many family members. I"ve got couple of horses that others would say are useless ( one over 42 years old) but as far as I"m concerned they raised my girls as much as I did and made them the women they are today, so they"ve got a pass for as long as they can walk my pastures. I sorry for your loss and feel real empathy for you