In case you have ever wondered how we can manage to buy cute, little baby spotted calves in the spring, tenderly bottle feed them for several weeks, continue caring for them every day for 18 months, and then ship them off to the locker plant for processing, to finally serve them up on a plate done to medium-well-juicy perfection . . . this is how.
Almost without fail, every single year that we have raised steers (which is a lot of years), they decide that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence about three weeks before the big truck is scheduled to make an appearance at our loading chute, and decide it would be really fun to become Houdini's with the fence and sneak out to play a game of catch . . . daily.
By the time that truck does pull into our driveway those steers can consider themselves lucky that this crazy farm wife hasn't found the keys for the gun cabinet and done the duty myself. A nice juicy T-bone sounds pretty good for supper right about now.
In case you have ever wondered how we can manage to buy cute, little baby spotted calves in the spring, tenderly bottle feed them for several weeks, continue caring for them every day for 18 months, and then ship them off to the locker plant for processing, to finally serve them up on a plate done to medium-well-juicy perfection . . . this is how.
Don't you just hate your animals sometimes - like that picture of the one in the shed door... When we tell people we raise our own steer or when we take market animals to the fair, people will say..."how can you do that?" Well...somethings you just can't explain - only experience will do..Blessings...
ReplyDeleteLOL...that is why we sold our ENTIRE herd last fall~! :) Bull and all. We raised Dexters, which are known for their gentleness. They are, unless you are talking about fences. And the truth is, they aren't looking for food...it's more of an excitement factor for them. Medium well is how I like my steak too! :~)
ReplyDeleteI know I am going to regret saying this, but......this is the first year we haven't had any escapees. The kids always think it is a great adventure. I always vote for herding them right to the butcher instead of back into the pasture and don't waste the extra weeks on them!
ReplyDeleteAnne
Goat wethers are about the same way... They are so cute and cuddly till about a year old then they are just a PAIN! I am never so happy to drop them off to meet their final destination!
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