Back in the day, horses were the go-to form of transportation, pulling carts and wagons. Cattle can do the same work but are slower. It’s been said that a team of horses can do in one day what it would take an oxen team to do in three. But horses, because they’re fast, run away when spooked. Most cattle are lazy and take a gentler approach.

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.