Well done, Melissa, a useful and informative video that puts the realities of homesteading out there, with the compassion too. You made a good decision about Rebel, hard though it was. You can rest easy, knowing that you will not be putting your other cows through difficult births, just because of sentimentality on your parts. It was the compassionate thing to do. All the very best, and prayers for you, as you grieve well, and heal. God bless. ❤✝️🙏🫂
Sending you lots of love. The circle of life can bring such joy but it also brings heartache. Those heartaches allow us to cherish all the joy so much more & appreciate everything in our lives more.
A bloke named Ray Marwick who taught me a great deal about farming. He was a very blunt kind of man. He taught me that if your going to have livestock, you’re going to have dead stock. It hits close to the bone, but is very true for farming. I do love how you love your animals and your example in caring for them all.
Meissa what a Fantastic Video & so heart felt. It is hard to lose any animal but you know what you bounce back- Hey Cry / Scream & get Angry but look at that little life you are now looking after. Cheers Denise- Australia
I’m very sorry for your loss of your precious cow. 😢 Thank you for sharing this information. I feel that it is important for us to know it’s not always easy like it looks on the videos. Things go wrong, learn from it and move on. Thanks so much.
I'm so sorry you lost sweet Clover. Our Angus heifer, Rosie, had her first calf two days ago who was also breech and upside down. We also had to pull the calf, but, unfortunately the calf didn't make it. He was also a bull calf. Rosie is ok so far. This part of homesteading is very painful. Our grandchildren learned one very difficult part of farming this week. There were a lot of tears on our homestead this week too. Thanks for sharing your story, even though it was painful.... It helped me to hear it.
With your bottles, being that they’re brand new bottles, I found out that unscrewing the lid helps with the air suction. I’ve also put in a bigger hole with a sharp knife in the tip and base of the nipple.
God bless you. I really admire you and your work and all the farming you do with your animals and your gardens and etc. Of course the government doesn't want us to be private farmers. We buy raw milk and it is absolutely wonderful!!!!!
I am so sorry Melissa. I had my first Homestead death recently, it was just a chicken but she was my girl and I cried when she died. I can’t imagine how difficult it will be when it’s a larger animal. You’re doing a great job!
When we quit having emotions for our stock when things don't go as planned, I believe it is time to stop having farm animals. Bless you for making hard decisions out of love. Keep up the good work you do. We all need you and so do your farms animals.🥰
We had a bull we got for free at a dairy. He was a lot of fun, loved to sit in our lap while we fed him. When he got big though it wasn't very nice when he wanted to sit in our lap. But he did fill up a freezer quite nicely. Best not to get too attached.
Been raising cattle for over 35 years now and it never gets easy when you lose one. For what it's worth, about 20 years ago, I lost 13 in one year! All due to calving issues. Tried to lift them up with the tractor, you name it but to no avail. The last time I lost a cow/calf to calving was about 5 years ago. I lost both of them.
On the coldest night of the year, our youngest heifer gave birth to her first. My son found the mother almost frozen to the ground and the newborn half born. He managed to complete the birth and brought the calf into the house to warm by the stove and went back out to drag the mother into a barn. Happily both lived although it was touch and go for mom, who had frost bitten a frost bitten udder. The calf, name Elsa (see the movie Frozen) spent a week with us in the living room. Including celebrating Christmas with us. When she was strong enough, we put her outside until we thought it was time to join the herd. Happy to report both mom and daughter are fine. We were on pins an needles for a while. I'm sorry you lost your cow. Life on a farm brings reality home.
It's so hard when you lose a momma. My Lucky's momma had to be put down and her calf Lucky delivered by the vet. Lucky was one of the best mommas we had.
My great uncle would use a stick to bop the Angus in the nose when they were babies so they had a cue to know when they were doing something not ok when they were much bigger. He'd just carry it with him when he was checking the fences and if they were trying to head butt him he'd just raise the stick/rod and they would know to stop or back down. Might be something to try? Best of luck to you💙
As a child we had a Jersey/Guernsey milking cow and almost lost her to milk fever. To see her laying on her back to milk fever was very traumatic. We didn’t lose her as the vet was close but the feeling was so intense. I appreciate the fact that you shared your story. You do sooo much good, and your calf if so beautiful, just wish you many more rewarding things on the farm. God bless all your efforts!
Hugs. That's what we do we our goats. We actually have a grave yard for them. We have Nigerian Dwarfs. We love our livestock and when you grow them out for food, like we did our turkeys and pigs, you just keep in the back of your mind that what they're for. We named our food livestock food names. Eg, Ham, Butterball.
I’m sorry to hear about Clover. Thank you for showing the reality of homesteading as it helps the rest of us manage our expectations and not feel so much like failures when those things happen.
I have never fed any of our calves jersey through holstein less than 1 1/2 gallons ever..over 25 yrs in this.. better to have many feedings, this replicates the feedings with the dam.. keeps the scours away too!
So sorry about clover. Well said on the hard things. They are valuable and worth it. I wish kids growing up today had more of a chance to learn more life skills.
Thank you for sharing the whole story. The good and the hard. I am so sorry you lost Clover. It is clear that she was a very special animal and part of the family. Losing part of the family is very hard. It was very nice to see Rebel. I needed that today. It made me smile.
That's tough, Melissa! So sorry for your loss of Clover! They become like family, don't they. Last June, we lost our prize ewe "Big Mama" after she gave birth to two beautiful lambs. The vet wasn't sure what happened, but she passed about 5 days after birthing. It is hard to watch the decline and not be able to do anything. The most heartbreaking sight I've seen is finding her that morning, passed away, with her two lambs snuggled up to her. So, I bottle fed them, and they are healthy, happy, and big now! "Big Mama" is buried out in our pasture, right where she lambed. I still cry when I walk past there. But then remember the two little blessings she left with us to care for. Many blessings to you all!
When I was a small girl on the Kansas dirt farm i grew up on....my favorite Jersy milk cow got stuck in the mud. Dad tried tractors and pulleys in the trees nothing could lift her the branch broke...so for her comfort they had to shoot her...broke my heart, now in my 70s I still think of Elsie, I named her, and use to give her oats while she was being hand milked and i brushed her bangs and even cut them with shears lol. Broke my heart so I so understand! Thanks for your beautiful Videos!
😭 hugs friend! There are definitely good and bad days on the Homestead. Praise God for the ability to take one day at a time and the grace He gives us to handle these things.
Thank you for making this difficult video. I teared up along with you. I have a Jersey cow, Cece, and I love her so much and would be heartbroken if something happens to her. She is due in May with her second calf so we're trying to make sure we're prepared for emergencies. Praying for you as you continue to miss your sweet Clover girl.
Can you talk about picking the right breeding bull? I know very little about the genetics to look for. Or if anyone has a blog or book they recommend. I'd be interested in learning more.
I'm so sorry about Clover. I just have to say, it makes me even more sad that Clover died to give birth only for her baby to end up as someone's dinner. He's a beautiful, strong bull. I wish you would reconsider your decision and possibly offer him to someone who'd like to take him in. If I had property of my own, I would have taken him myself. Clover fought so hard to bring him into the world. I think he's one bull that'd be worth keeping alive and would make someone very happy.
I am so sorry! Smaller, more frequent feedings (because you have nothing else to do of course) help prevent life- threatening scours. More the way calves nurse naturally. You are the best. Not only an emotional, but big financial loss. Bless your family!
ZenHugs! the poet Christina Rossetti Wrote When I am dead my dearest sing no sad songs for me, plant thou no roses at my head, nor shady cypress tree. Be the green grass above me with showers of dew drops wet, and if thou wilt remember, and if thou wilt forget. (and just seems right for a pasture burial)
heart felt condolences on your loss of dear Clover. I lost a beloved cow in similar circumstances and I understand how you feel. Thank you for sharing the story with us all. For Rebel, might you consider training him to be an ox? Cattle make wonderful, useful draft animals and "bovine ambassadors". Whatever you decide to do, may God bless you for your good hearts.
Sorry about the cow .... It's hard when you know that you have done everything you can and it's still not good enough... My husband and I are flying to Missouri to look at a 10 acre farm this weekend.... Have to leave Washington State to attain our dream, super excited to be able to have more room for animals!
I grew up from age five to age fourteen on a micro/mini homestead. That you, though I had chores with some of the animals it was mostly the chickens, and goats when we had them. I was simply too little to handle the milk cows and pigs. We had two milk cows (for six kids and our parents), one a little Jersey that could hide her calves under a teacup I swear, if she got out. And she always seemed to get out. Once we got her back in the yard she was fine, but right after birth she wanted to take off with the calf. The Holstein, and it was big even for a Holstein I could not even slow her down if she wanted to wanted to get over to what she was sure was some 'greener' grass when we had her on a lead grazing them. The Jersey did not produce nearly as much milk, but it was very high fat content. The Holstein produced much more milk but the butter fat was about half what the Jersey was. Though the cows had names, working with them for my oldest brother and two older sisters pretty much kept them from being too much like a pet. Same for me with caring for the hunting dogs we raised. They were so much work that there was no play time, only training time. And since I was the one that helped my father do the butchering, I learned very quickly that there was (and is) a difference between a member-of-the-family pet and stock and working animals. Though we did not lose a cow or calf, we lost a couple of dogs. My father put them both down. Only time I saw him cry except when we lost family. He was not a crier. I never used to be, but as I have gotten older I have been able to let things go a bit and not hold everything in. Do not be appologetic about crying on camera. I doubt anyone that follows you would care if it took you a few minutes to regain control. The fact that you feel the way you do that makes you cry is one of the things that make you someone I listen too and accept advice from. You are not in it just for money. A real desire to help people and educate them while treating Gaia with the respect deserved, as well as treating and raising animals humanely and with caring. While many people know that talking to animals can go a long ways to help them when hurting and they enjoy it when not hurting, but treating the ground and the plants and animals growing in it also benefit from being treated well. A little philosophical and somewhat metaphysical I suppose, but that has been my experience. There are definitely some hard decisions that go hand--in-hand with just about everything, but especially when dealing with animals whose very existence depend on a person. I have to agree with you about your plans for the calf. The world already has too many genetic weaknesses that are allowed to be passed on. Part of what is wrong with the world. I think you would have been doing a major disservice to everyone that has or raises stock animals if the calf had been sold to be used for breeding. Not only would it likely have caused problems for the cows bred, but those genes would just be passed on and on since not that many people have the understanding and compassion for what is right for not only the animals, but the homestead, Gaia, and you and your family. I was raised to give thanks to the Creator for every meal, including when I harvested game animals and stock animals. That even applies to plants and their parts that are edible. It was not until I was grown that I realized why my father always paused for a moment, touched an animal gently, and said a few words I could never hear before he made the killing stroke of an animal we were butchering. I do not know if he would have done it anyway, but we have some American Indian blood in our veins, from several tribes. As I learned life lessons growing up that came to mean a great deal to me and helped explain several things about my father. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for sharing the problems as well as the successes that are inherent in homesteading, as well as many other things. Some people are not cut out to deal with what you have had to deal with lately and you showing all sides of homesteading and prepping will help many people decide to try it or to not try it when they understand these things. Thank you and rest easy. I know you said a good good-bye to Clover, and I believe that she will know and understand your feelings. I have taken up enough space here. I simply had to voice my opinions on how you are handling the situation. Thank you again. Jerry D Young
I'm just sitting and watching you as usual beautiful video, but just now realized you have a camera person and have had in the past for quite some time. It didn't dawn on me. I was noticing how beautiful the camera work was and was wondering, who is your camera person? They are doing such a beautiful job please tell them that. If you have already told us about it I guess I missed it. Sorry.
I'm so sorry to hear about Clover and I really feel with you! But as you say when we have animals it is our responsability to deal with tuff decitions however hard and heartbreaking. I hope little Rebel brings you lots of joy and laughter, Hugs from Sweden
So sorry for your loss. Even though we know we've done right by our animals and helped them live the best life possible, the decision to let them go is just gut wrenching. I've had horses, dogs and various other farm animals almost all my life and I still can't get used to it (we shouldn't really, should we). So happy to see you have a healthy steer calf. Best of luck this spring with the farm and gardens.
I grew up with beef cows on the farm and one milk cow. We lost some beef cows to birthing and even more calves one year. Calves were too big and the pasture too rich in nourishment that year so mamas were too big as well. Hard time. A word about bottle feeding here. Yep, I've done that too. For a while we would buy day-old dairy calves at the sale barn. They were sold so their mama could be milked without competing with a calf. The little guy was only made to turn on the faucets. BTW this is not a profitable enterprise. Also, holding the bottle for Rebel makes a good video and I'm pleased to see he has learned to not head butt. More, there are wire bottle holders that you can hang on a board fence so you don't have to hold it. These are really necessary in cases where one has several bottle feeders. Maybe you have a holder. Highly recommended (by me). One last thing, you don't have to do it on video, but go ahead and cry (I am). Losing four footed friends is hard and the decision to put them down is possibly worse. (Sixteen dogs and a few house cats over the years. All were dear friends.) Sniff.
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Clover was loved. So are you! Losing our animals no matter the reason is always tough. The life we lead is made worth while because of the love we have for others, pets included. The grief you feel is a measure of how much love you've invested in those that pass on. The peace we get in the end is new loves we find. Thank you Rebel for being there to help Melissa and the family with thier loss. God bless you all!
It is hard to lose Animals, when You spend so much taking care of them and Develop a Bond. Important Share that Jesus gets Us through all things, when We seek Him. Jesus is the One who gives Us Strength and Keeps Is Persevering!
Well done, Melissa, a useful and informative video that puts the realities of homesteading out there, with the compassion too. You made a good decision about Rebel, hard though it was. You can rest easy, knowing that you will not be putting your other cows through difficult births, just because of sentimentality on your parts. It was the compassionate thing to do. All the very best, and prayers for you, as you grieve well, and heal. God bless. ❤✝️🙏🫂
Bless you, Melissa
Thanks so much for sharing … so well said❤!
Sending you lots of love. The circle of life can bring such joy but it also brings heartache. Those heartaches allow us to cherish all the joy so much more & appreciate everything in our lives more.
thank you very interesting.
Dear Melissa ,you do so the Best many greetings from maja in the Netherlands.
A bloke named Ray Marwick who taught me a great deal about farming. He was a very blunt kind of man. He taught me that if your going to have livestock, you’re going to have dead stock. It hits close to the bone, but is very true for farming. I do love how you love your animals and your example in caring for them all.
Meissa what a Fantastic Video & so heart felt. It is hard to lose any animal but you know what you bounce back- Hey Cry / Scream & get Angry but look at that little life you are now looking after. Cheers Denise- Australia
Melissa thanks so much for sharing your real life joys and sorrows. It encourages me in my own joys and sorrows. So sorry for your loss.
I am sorry to hear you lost Clover. Look at the blessing she left in your care ! So so cute! hugs.
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience. What a beautiful baby she left you! GOD bless
I’m very sorry for your loss of your precious cow. 😢
Thank you for sharing this information. I feel that it is important for us to know it’s not always easy like it looks on the videos. Things go wrong, learn from it and move on. Thanks so much.
So sorry for your loss of Clover.
Im sorry for your loss of clover. That steer is awfully cute.
Thank you for sharing it all, not just the good. So true that the hard things of life grow us
I love this message, Melissa - that things aren’t supposed to be easy (especially the important things)! I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m o sorry about clover. I love animals. Sending you a big hug.
I'm so sorry you lost sweet Clover. Our Angus heifer, Rosie, had her first calf two days ago who was also breech and upside down. We also had to pull the calf, but, unfortunately the calf didn't make it. He was also a bull calf. Rosie is ok so far. This part of homesteading is very painful. Our grandchildren learned one very difficult part of farming this week. There were a lot of tears on our homestead this week too. Thanks for sharing your story, even though it was painful.... It helped me to hear it.
So so sorry for your loss I sobbed the whole time! Prayers! Your a great farm mamma!
So sorry to hear about Clover!
I’m so sorry
So sorry to hear about Clover! Rebel is so cute.
With your bottles, being that they’re brand new bottles, I found out that unscrewing the lid helps with the air suction. I’ve also put in a bigger hole with a sharp knife in the tip and base of the nipple.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
God bless you. I really admire you and your work and all the farming you do with your animals and your gardens and etc. Of course the government doesn't want us to be private farmers.
We buy raw milk and it is absolutely wonderful!!!!!
So sorry about your loss of Clover. I know she had the best of life with your family God bless you
I am so sorry Melissa. I had my first Homestead death recently, it was just a chicken but she was my girl and I cried when she died. I can’t imagine how difficult it will be when it’s a larger animal. You’re doing a great job!
When we quit having emotions for our stock when things don't go as planned, I believe it is time to stop having farm animals. Bless you for making hard decisions out of love. Keep up the good work you do. We all need you and so do your farms animals.🥰
So sad to hear of the loss of Clover! It is so sad to lose an animal you care about. It sounds like you did the best you could for her.
My sweet Melissa, my deepest condolences on your loss of Clover!
I'm so sorry Melissa. 😢😞 I'd be pretty upset too. It's hard not to get attached to living beings we love and care for.
We had a bull we got for free at a dairy. He was a lot of fun, loved to sit in our lap while we fed him. When he got big though it wasn't very nice when he wanted to sit in our lap. But he did fill up a freezer quite nicely. Best not to get too attached.
Sorry for your lost. Thanks for sharing.
I’m sorry
Been raising cattle for over 35 years now and it never gets easy when you lose one. For what it's worth, about 20 years ago, I lost 13 in one year! All due to calving issues. Tried to lift them up with the tractor, you name it but to no avail. The last time I lost a cow/calf to calving was about 5 years ago. I lost both of them.
I am very sorry for your loss.
Losing an animal is so emotional. Hugs to you.
RIP Sweet Clover.
I'm so sorry! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 And he is soooooo cute!
On the coldest night of the year, our youngest heifer gave birth to her first. My son found the mother almost frozen to the ground and the newborn half born. He managed to complete the birth and brought the calf into the house to warm by the stove and went back out to drag the mother into a barn. Happily both lived although it was touch and go for mom, who had frost bitten a frost bitten udder. The calf, name Elsa (see the movie Frozen) spent a week with us in the living room. Including celebrating Christmas with us. When she was strong enough, we put her outside until we thought it was time to join the herd. Happy to report both mom and daughter are fine. We were on pins an needles for a while. I'm sorry you lost your cow. Life on a farm brings reality home.
It's so hard when you lose a momma. My Lucky's momma had to be put down and her calf Lucky delivered by the vet. Lucky was one of the best mommas we had.
😄
My great uncle would use a stick to bop the Angus in the nose when they were babies so they had a cue to know when they were doing something not ok when they were much bigger. He'd just carry it with him when he was checking the fences and if they were trying to head butt him he'd just raise the stick/rod and they would know to stop or back down. Might be something to try? Best of luck to you💙
As a child we had a Jersey/Guernsey milking cow and almost lost her to milk fever. To see her laying on her back to milk fever was very traumatic. We didn’t lose her as the vet was close but the feeling was so intense. I appreciate the fact that you shared your story. You do sooo much good, and your calf if so beautiful, just wish you many more rewarding things on the farm. God bless all your efforts!
So sorry for your loss. So glad Clover will live on in Rebel for your enjoyment ❤❤❤
Hugs. That's what we do we our goats. We actually have a grave yard for them. We have Nigerian Dwarfs. We love our livestock and when you grow them out for food, like we did our turkeys and pigs, you just keep in the back of your mind that what they're for. We named our food livestock food names. Eg, Ham, Butterball.
I feel so bad for you. I remember how my Mom loved her Blossom cow.
💔
Thank you for sharing!
❤ Sending much love and hugs
I am so sorry to hear about your loses. Good to hear Rebel is doing well.
I’m sorry to hear about Clover. Thank you for showing the reality of homesteading as it helps the rest of us manage our expectations and not feel so much like failures when those things happen.
So good that he made it through!
I'm so sorry. You had me well up with tears. Much love.
I have never fed any of our calves jersey through holstein less than 1 1/2 gallons ever..over 25 yrs in this.. better to have many feedings, this replicates the feedings with the dam.. keeps the scours away too!
"nourishing the pasture in her own way" - comforting thought. best wishes to all
I'm so sorry for your loss. I could tell how much you loved her. She is not suffering and she left you with a cutie pie
So sorry to hear you lost Clover. My deepest sympathy.
I feel for the calf - it must be so hard for him to adjust without mama. I am also sorry for your loss.
So sorry about clover. Well said on the hard things. They are valuable and worth it. I wish kids growing up today had more of a chance to learn more life skills.
It is so hard to let go of even farm animals. Rebel is so cute!!
Loved this very touching episode. Hugs
Thank you for sharing the whole story. The good and the hard. I am so sorry you lost Clover. It is clear that she was a very special animal and part of the family. Losing part of the family is very hard. It was very nice to see Rebel. I needed that today. It made me smile.
Rebel is such a cutie. I just love cows and would be just as heartbroken to lose one. 😢 You are so blessed to have them in your life!❤
When some one is good at what they are doing ,it almost always looks easy.
That's tough, Melissa! So sorry for your loss of Clover! They become like family, don't they. Last June, we lost our prize ewe "Big Mama" after she gave birth to two beautiful lambs. The vet wasn't sure what happened, but she passed about 5 days after birthing. It is hard to watch the decline and not be able to do anything. The most heartbreaking sight I've seen is finding her that morning, passed away, with her two lambs snuggled up to her. So, I bottle fed them, and they are healthy, happy, and big now! "Big Mama" is buried out in our pasture, right where she lambed. I still cry when I walk past there.
But then remember the two little blessings she left with us to care for.
Many blessings to you all!
So sorry about Clover. You really do have a big baby. He’s beautiful!! We used to bottle feed calves. You do get so attached.
When I was a small girl on the Kansas dirt farm i grew up on....my favorite Jersy milk cow got stuck in the mud. Dad tried tractors and pulleys in the trees nothing could lift her the branch broke...so for her comfort they had to shoot her...broke my heart, now in my 70s I still think of Elsie, I named her, and use to give her oats while she was being hand milked and i brushed her bangs and even cut them with shears lol. Broke my heart so I so understand! Thanks for your beautiful Videos!
They need to make those bottles with a handle to make it easier to handle.
😭 hugs friend! There are definitely good and bad days on the Homestead. Praise God for the ability to take one day at a time and the grace He gives us to handle these things.
Sad news 😢
Thank you for making this difficult video. I teared up along with you. I have a Jersey cow, Cece, and I love her so much and would be heartbroken if something happens to her. She is due in May with her second calf so we're trying to make sure we're prepared for emergencies. Praying for you as you continue to miss your sweet Clover girl.
Rebel is adorable, gonna be tough come processing time
Great message! It is so hard to lose an animal and then to take of their baby. He looks so very strong. I'm so very sorry for your loss. 😟🙏
Hugs to all in this situation. 💚🌞
Sorry about your Clover. We raised cows when I was growing up and lost a few unexpectedly. It's very hard. 🙏🥰🤠
Can you talk about picking the right breeding bull? I know very little about the genetics to look for. Or if anyone has a blog or book they recommend. I'd be interested in learning more.
I'm so sorry about Clover. I just have to say, it makes me even more sad that Clover died to give birth only for her baby to end up as someone's dinner. He's a beautiful, strong bull. I wish you would reconsider your decision and possibly offer him to someone who'd like to take him in. If I had property of my own, I would have taken him myself. Clover fought so hard to bring him into the world. I think he's one bull that'd be worth keeping alive and would make someone very happy.
Life is really hard sometimes, but you made responsible decisions & that needs to be your comfort. You guys are amazing & an inspiration to me. Hugs
I am so sorry! Smaller, more frequent feedings (because you have nothing else to do of course) help prevent life- threatening scours. More the way calves nurse naturally. You are the best. Not only an emotional, but big financial loss. Bless your family!
ZenHugs! the poet Christina Rossetti Wrote When I am dead my dearest sing no sad songs for me, plant thou no roses at my head, nor shady cypress tree. Be the green grass above me with showers of dew drops wet, and if thou wilt remember, and if thou wilt forget. (and just seems right for a pasture burial)
heart felt condolences on your loss of dear Clover. I lost a beloved cow in similar circumstances and I understand how you feel. Thank you for sharing the story with us all. For Rebel, might you consider training him to be an ox? Cattle make wonderful, useful draft animals and "bovine ambassadors". Whatever you decide to do, may God bless you for your good hearts.
Cuteness overload
Sorry about the cow .... It's hard when you know that you have done everything you can and it's still not good enough... My husband and I are flying to Missouri to look at a 10 acre farm this weekend.... Have to leave Washington State to attain our dream, super excited to be able to have more room for animals!
I grew up from age five to age fourteen on a micro/mini homestead. That you, though I had chores with some of the animals it was mostly the chickens, and goats when we had them. I was simply too little to handle the milk cows and pigs. We had two milk cows (for six kids and our parents), one a little Jersey that could hide her calves under a teacup I swear, if she got out. And she always seemed to get out. Once we got her back in the yard she was fine, but right after birth she wanted to take off with the calf.
The Holstein, and it was big even for a Holstein I could not even slow her down if she wanted to wanted to get over to what she was sure was some 'greener' grass when we had her on a lead grazing them. The Jersey did not produce nearly as much milk, but it was very high fat content. The Holstein produced much more milk but the butter fat was about half what the Jersey was.
Though the cows had names, working with them for my oldest brother and two older sisters pretty much kept them from being too much like a pet. Same for me with caring for the hunting dogs we raised. They were so much work that there was no play time, only training time. And since I was the one that helped my father do the butchering, I learned very quickly that there was (and is) a difference between a member-of-the-family pet and stock and working animals. Though we did not lose a cow or calf, we lost a couple of dogs. My father put them both down. Only time I saw him cry except when we lost family. He was not a crier. I never used to be, but as I have gotten older I have been able to let things go a bit and not hold everything in.
Do not be appologetic about crying on camera. I doubt anyone that follows you would care if it took you a few minutes to regain control. The fact that you feel the way you do that makes you cry is one of the things that make you someone I listen too and accept advice from. You are not in it just for money. A real desire to help people and educate them while treating Gaia with the respect deserved, as well as treating and raising animals humanely and with caring. While many people know that talking to animals can go a long ways to help them when hurting and they enjoy it when not hurting, but treating the ground and the plants and animals growing in it also benefit from being treated well. A little philosophical and somewhat metaphysical I suppose, but that has been my experience.
There are definitely some hard decisions that go hand--in-hand with just about everything, but especially when dealing with animals whose very existence depend on a person. I have to agree with you about your plans for the calf. The world already has too many genetic weaknesses that are allowed to be passed on. Part of what is wrong with the world. I think you would have been doing a major disservice to everyone that has or raises stock animals if the calf had been sold to be used for breeding. Not only would it likely have caused problems for the cows bred, but those genes would just be passed on and on since not that many people have the understanding and compassion for what is right for not only the animals, but the homestead, Gaia, and you and your family.
I was raised to give thanks to the Creator for every meal, including when I harvested game animals and stock animals. That even applies to plants and their parts that are edible. It was not until I was grown that I realized why my father always paused for a moment, touched an animal gently, and said a few words I could never hear before he made the killing stroke of an animal we were butchering. I do not know if he would have done it anyway, but we have some American Indian blood in our veins, from several tribes. As I learned life lessons growing up that came to mean a great deal to me and helped explain several things about my father.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for sharing the problems as well as the successes that are inherent in homesteading, as well as many other things. Some people are not cut out to deal with what you have had to deal with lately and you showing all sides of homesteading and prepping will help many people decide to try it or to not try it when they understand these things.
Thank you and rest easy. I know you said a good good-bye to Clover, and I believe that she will know and understand your feelings.
I have taken up enough space here. I simply had to voice my opinions on how you are handling the situation. Thank you again.
Jerry D Young
I grew up on a family dairy farm in the 60's , cows are some of the best people I've ever met .But it depends on the cow .
I'm just sitting and watching you as usual beautiful video, but just now realized you have a camera person and have had in the past for quite some time. It didn't dawn on me. I was noticing how beautiful the camera work was and was wondering, who is your camera person? They are doing such a beautiful job please tell them that. If you have already told us about it I guess I missed it. Sorry.
So sorry about Clover. Rebel is a beautiful little bull. No matter how hard we try, we still get a little attached to our animals.
I'm so sorry to hear about Clover and I really feel with you! But as you say when we have animals it is our responsability to deal with tuff decitions however hard and heartbreaking. I hope little Rebel brings you lots of joy and laughter, Hugs from Sweden
So sorry for your loss. Even though we know we've done right by our animals and helped them live the best life possible, the decision to let them go is just gut wrenching. I've had horses, dogs and various other farm animals almost all my life and I still can't get used to it (we shouldn't really, should we). So happy to see you have a healthy steer calf. Best of luck this spring with the farm and gardens.
What's the difference steer vs bull?
Apparently, TH-cam involuntarily unsubscribed me from your channel. Resubbed,
I'm so sorry for your loss of Clover, but look how beautiful Rebel is. Love you videos.
I grew up with beef cows on the farm and one milk cow. We lost some beef cows to birthing and even more calves one year. Calves were too big and the pasture too rich in nourishment that year so mamas were too big as well. Hard time.
A word about bottle feeding here. Yep, I've done that too. For a while we would buy day-old dairy calves at the sale barn. They were sold so their mama could be milked without competing with a calf. The little guy was only made to turn on the faucets. BTW this is not a profitable enterprise.
Also, holding the bottle for Rebel makes a good video and I'm pleased to see he has learned to not head butt. More, there are wire bottle holders that you can hang on a board fence so you don't have to hold it. These are really necessary in cases where one has several bottle feeders. Maybe you have a holder. Highly recommended (by me).
One last thing, you don't have to do it on video, but go ahead and cry (I am). Losing four footed friends is hard and the decision to put them down is possibly worse. (Sixteen dogs and a few house cats over the years. All were dear friends.) Sniff.
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Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
Clover was loved.
So are you!
Losing our animals no matter the reason is always tough. The life we lead is made worth while because of the love we have for others, pets included. The grief you feel is a measure of how much love you've invested in those that pass on. The peace we get in the end is new loves we find. Thank you Rebel for being there to help Melissa and the family with thier loss.
God bless you all!
Breeding animals comes with many highs and, unfortunately, some lows. I'm sorry that you had to say good bye to Clover. Bless you!
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the only good thing rebel did nurse and had colostrum.
It is hard to lose Animals, when You spend so much taking care of them and Develop a Bond. Important Share that Jesus gets Us through all things, when We seek Him. Jesus is the One who gives Us Strength and Keeps Is Persevering!