Big Bertha

[inyati13]

I had a thread on here not long ago about my lead cow preventing the bull from breeding a heifer in estrus. Several comments recommended selling her. BTW, I will update when I get her scale weight. I am going to bet she goes 2000 pounds. My friend who hauls for the Flemingsburg stocksale thinks she will go 1900.

UPDATE:
I put Big Bertha in the loafing pen yesterday and scheduled her for market sale (slaughter) on Monday. I am sad about it. I feel like a traitor. She is one of my first 4 cows I purchased from my brother almost 4 years ago. Big Bertha has a personality as rugged as these Kentucky Hills. I admire her strength and size and most of all that white blaze face on the black body. She has been the subject of several of my threads. She looks at me like I work for her and she owns the place. If there is a cow heaven, the cow God and other angel cows better get prepared for some rather big changes.

 

[texast]

I always enjoy seeing pics of your cattle. I'm sorry you have to send Big Bertha to town. I really like the way her bag sits. Do you have any daughters kept by her?

 

[inyati13]

I always enjoy seeing pics of your cattle. I'm sorry you have to send Big Bertha to town. I really like the way her bag sits. Do you have any daughters kept by her?

Yes. Here she is, Queen. She has Big Bertha's personality.

 

[SBFWagyu]

A LOT of attituide, and it's not all good! I have a horse like that... she absolutely rules the place, but she made up for it with talent and willingness undersaddle. You just have to decide what you can tolerate.

Probably too late for Bertha, but can anyone comment if it's any reflection on the bull? Would a more dominant/motivated bull have been an option? How much did he challenge the big cow? I'm still learning the language of "cow" and wonder if Bertha just need to be taken down a notch, or is common and she would "rule" regardless?

 

[CKC1586]

Why are you culling?

 

[inyati13]

Why are you culling?

She is so dominant that recently she would not permit the bull to breed a heifer. Plus, her size is getting hard to manage. She just barely fits the squeeze chute. Her front feet need to be trimmed and I don't know how that would go down. She is painful to manage due to her dominant nature. Being older, I can sell her and replace her with a bred heifer more in the size range I am working toward. She will bring close to $1600.

 

[inyati13]

She is gone. On her way to that big green pasture in the sky. It is hard to betray an animal. You have to earn the trust of a cow. Then when you coach them into a pen and shut the gate, you feel like a Nazi at a German Jewish camp. I also shipped two 8 month old steers that followed me like puppies. They were so comfortable with me they would rub their heads against my legs like I was a fence post. But what am I going to do. I cannot keep them all as pets. Mike Gifford, my good cattle friend and the one who hauls them, tells me they are expensive pets so you got to sell them. Of course, we all know they are headed to the table top. Don't mistake me for a bleeding heart liberal. That would be your misjudgement. And I love beef on the table. But it ain't easy for me. I guess I am getting a little soft in the head as I get older.

Tribute to Big Bertha:
About two hours ago you left the best place most cows ever have. Plenty of grass and clover. Clean water. I took good care of you and visited with you every day except maybe 10 days in a span of the last 4 years. I earned your trust. And my heart is troubled. I loved your size, strength and character. And there was never a bigger more beautiful cow than you. Bye Big Girl. Life is for living and I lived some of it with you. I will not forget you.

 

[dun]

It's hard to get rid of an old cow, and some of them we get attached to. I know there are a lot of folks that don;t feel that way but for me it's always sad to see a good cow or one that has given her best through the years climb on the trailer for that ride.

 

[highgrit]

Nice tribute inyati13, I have felt the same way myself.

 

[texast]

I dreaded reading this knowing how well you took care of Bertha and the relationship you had with her. It never get's easy to do that. People can say what they want, but there's always that one that tugs at your heart.

 

[chippie]

I'm sorry that you had to sell her.
Sometimes you just have to be practical about things. Better that she is gone before she got too pushy and hurt someone.
She was a pretty girl.

 

[fitz]

It's hard to get rid of an old cow, and some of them we get attached to. I know there are a lot of folks that don;t feel that way but for me it's always sad to see a good cow or one that has given her best through the years climb on the trailer for that ride.

I agree dun. Some are easy to let go. Some, not so much.

fitz

 

[chippie]

It's hard to get rid of an old cow, and some of them we get attached to. I know there are a lot of folks that don;t feel that way but for me it's always sad to see a good cow or one that has given her best through the years climb on the trailer for that ride.

I agree.
We've been fortunate that we were able to put a couple down here and bury them. I know that some would say that it was a waste of money, but an old dairy cow wouldn't bring much and we knew what happened to them.

 

[inyati13]

Thank each of you for sharing these feelings. Now that it is over, I believe I made the right decision. She is a big cow and her domination was becoming a management issue. It was beginning to adversely affect the other cows. I will watch as her daughter grows to see what she becomes. I will see a little bit of Bertha every day.

 

[jasonleonard]

Inyati, let us all know how she hit the scales. I am not ashamed to tell you I feel a little sad each time a gooseneck leaves my farm with cattle that I feel like I know personally.

 

[Chris H]

On occasion we've had to eat one we got attached to. What helps is to say grace before the meal. It puts things in a good perspective. The same principle applies when you sell them.

 

[inyati13]

Inyati, let us all know how she hit the scales. I am not ashamed to tell you I feel a little sad each time a gooseneck leaves my farm with cattle that I feel like I know personally.

Should get the sale slip today or tomorrow. Will post her weight.

 

[inyati13]

Gotta eat some crow and I am disappointed. Bertha went 1,785 pounds and sold 80 cents a pound. I thought she would weigh at least 1,900. I gotta say, Mike Gifford knows my cattle. He AIed the four original cows. Blackie, the big black cow I sold in January was 1,890 pounds (picture below). She sold for 72.50. I told Mike when we loaded Bertha that this cow is bigger. He said, "No. The black cow was much wider, she could hardly get through the alley way. Both sides were rubbing hard to get her through. This cow is taller but not bigger." He was right.

 

[dun]

I've seen finished market steers that didn;t have as much condition as those do

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

You can still get a good bred heifer with that check!