posted on
January 24, 2023
When we started raising cattle, keeping track of individuals in our 50-head herd was essential. Calves, though adorable, looked alike. Unlike their mothers, I couldn't tell them apart, so we gave each one an ear tag. The numbered tags didn’t bother the animals and made identification easy. Problem solved—almost.
Several years ago, I lost a calf, and I’ve always suspected she swallowed metal. Without an autopsy, I’ll never know for sure. But the signs of hardware disease are hard to miss.
After a long, snowy winter, it’s time to do a happy dance and welcome warmer days. If you don’t know how to dance, the cattle can show you the bovine style.
