it makes me sad

[Ryder]

Detach-disengage, withdraw.
Detached-Seperate, unconnected. Exhibiting an aloof objectivity.

 

[cypressfarms]

We (my daughters) name the calves, but they still get sold every year regardless of what their name is. The more times you've gone through it the easier it is; at least for me. Maybe it's easier for men, not sure. Women are natural "nurterers", so it would stand to reason that it would be harder for them to let go. I have to agree with caustic however; I look forward to sale time because I know that there will be a paycheck involved.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Gotta agree with caustic, raising cattle ain't like pets. Cows as pets will get you hurt at a feed bunk or one wanting to play. I never name any of them. They just get numbers, although my son does call #201 T-Bone. ( its going in the freezer in march). If you always look at them as what their purpose is for, you won't get as attached to them. Giving them names adds more of a personality to them.

Now Bama I really do name mine also lets see there is Washington,Grant,Jackson, and Franklin. I don't raise calves thats the cows job to raise the calf, I maintain the cow so she can do her job.

 

[rwtherefords]

The check always cheers me up, and a nice 1-1/2" ribeye cooked medium rare helps sooth my "feelings" as well.

CJ

I with you Red on this, that foldin money they bring sure put a smile on your face.
What is amazing is to read all this touchy feely stuff that is popping up more and more on this board, need to decide if your a rancher/ Cattlemen in the biz or a pet owner. A lot of you sound like pet owners.

I wonder how "touchy feely" society would be if everyone did their own killing and butchering (for everything, every time). Seems that the longer we keep the "ugly" part of our food processing out of sight, the more touchy feely people get about their food animals. Even the ranchers.

It's a business, and they're stock. Nothing more.

 

[Caustic Burno]

The check always cheers me up, and a nice 1-1/2" ribeye cooked medium rare helps sooth my "feelings" as well.

CJ

I with you Red on this, that foldin money they bring sure put a smile on your face.
What is amazing is to read all this touchy feely stuff that is popping up more and more on this board, need to decide if your a rancher/ Cattlemen in the biz or a pet owner. A lot of you sound like pet owners.

I wonder how "touchy feely" society would be if everyone did their own killing and butchering (for everything, every time). Seems that the longer we keep the "ugly" part of our food processing out of sight, the more touchy feely people get about their food animals. Even the ranchers.

It's a business, and they're stock. Nothing more.

Well I got a couple of PWR's to shoot and clean in the morning they are in the trap right now about 150 lbs a piece. Nothing better than sugar cured ham or bar-b-que ribs.

 

[Bez!]

The check always cheers me up, and a nice 1-1/2" ribeye cooked medium rare helps sooth my "feelings" as well.

CJ

I with you Red on this, that foldin money they bring sure put a smile on your face.
What is amazing is to read all this touchy feely stuff that is popping up more and more on this board, need to decide if your a rancher/ Cattlemen in the biz or a pet owner. A lot of you sound like pet owners.

Caustic - I have never written on this before, and will likely not do so again - but .....

Every time I see the words "sorry for your loss" I always think to myself - Sounds like they lost a kid or a parent.

Actually makes me shake my head.

When I lose one I always think - "Schitzen! There goes another couple hundred bucks!"

If / when death occurs, I always hope I have not spent too much money before it dies - because if it does die after I spent all the money I always think - "Schitzen - I should have killed it yesterday!"

Bez!

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Gotta agree with caustic, raising cattle ain't like pets. Cows as pets will get you hurt at a feed bunk or one wanting to play. I never name any of them. They just get numbers, although my son does call #201 T-Bone. ( its going in the freezer in march). If you always look at them as what their purpose is for, you won't get as attached to them. Giving them names adds more of a personality to them.

Now Bama I really do name mine also lets see there is Washington,Grant,Jackson, and Franklin. I don't raise calves thats the cows job to raise the calf, I maintain the cow so she can do her job.

Most of the time my cattle get named when there being worked.i have a few choice ones too some that would make a sailer blush :oops: but if i get attached to any of them it's the moma's ;-)

 

[Crowderfarms]

If numbers are the same as names, by gosh they got em'.

 

[Bama]

If numbers are the same as names, by gosh they got em'.

Gertie Sue, Mary Beth, Annie May, Martha Ann, Betty Lou - 201,315,965,847,926. Somehow the numbers just don't have near the personality as the names. JMO. There is a herd that has been in the family for several years. Started from 12 cows a long time ago. They will all be gone come spring. I do mostly stocker calves now. I will miss those cows. Not any perticular one but just the thought that their ancesters paid for raising us 5 kids. In all that time I can remember only one name that has been used over and over. "momma boss" Thats the old lead cow that pretty much sets the stage for the rest of them to follow. That name has been attached to the lead cow all through the years.

 

[Victoria]

What is amazing is to read all this touchy feely stuff that is popping up more and more on this board, need to decide if your a rancher/ Cattlemen in the biz or a pet owner. A lot of you sound like pet owners.

I'm in the business of raising cattle for a profit, but that doesn't mean that I have to become an unfeeling, insensitive automaton in order to accomplish my goals. Just my thoughts.

I agree with you msscamp.

I do have a couple of cows that are more like pets I suppose but why not they're nicer than most dogs I've owned AND they make me more money than any dog I've ever owned. :lol: I want to make money but if I didn't like the cows I'd sure find a warmer, easier and more profitable job. ;-)

 

[msscamp]

What is amazing is to read all this touchy feely stuff that is popping up more and more on this board, need to decide if your a rancher/ Cattlemen in the biz or a pet owner. A lot of you sound like pet owners.

I'm in the business of raising cattle for a profit, but that doesn't mean that I have to become an unfeeling, insensitive automaton in order to accomplish my goals. Just my thoughts.

I agree with you msscamp.

I do have a couple of cows that are more like pets I suppose but why not they're nicer than most dogs I've owned AND they make me more money than any dog I've ever owned. :lol: I want to make money but if I didn't like the cows I'd sure find a warmer, easier and more profitable job. ;-)

Thank you. I'm not even suggesting that the temps here can compare with Canada, but I absolutely understand about the warmer and easier part! :lol: :lol:

 

[aplusmnt]

Hardest thing here is when you have that show steer that you been babying for a year and then you take him to the Butcher! Hard sometimes, sometimes though it is enjoyable (when you get bad behaving one). But either way once you cut into that first Ribeye steak the tears dry up :)

 

[holly heifer]

:( I too hate selling my calves, but they leave so that the
horses can eat( hay money). The worst were the pair of
hereford steers I raised( neither had colustrum, both had
pneumonia and were brought back from the brink of death)
A neighbor bought them to finish for his freezer. I was sad,
but the $1000 i got for them was very nice!
I had also raised a bull that we used for several years, he was getting old, stiff in the hips, and I knew it was time to let him go
or else eventually I was going to have to dig a very big hole.
He also brought $1000. Such is the way of life on the farm ;-)