I’m new here on this Ranch. I was born a bull on a cold wet snowy day. After being cleaned by my mother I instinctively knew to get up and find my way to my mothers udder. My legs were wobbly at first and my eyesight blurry but I could find my way by scent.

My mother was an excellent protector and she supervised my every move and knew exactly who I was when I cried out. As the days warmed I got to run and play with all the other calves in the wide open spaces. I knew someday I will have a big job to do, but for now I am enjoying the fresh milk from my mother while she enjoys the fresh hay from the feeder.

My mother gets a little uneasy when the humans come around to poke a big needle in me to prevent disease, and place an earring in my ear to mark who I belong to. It’s quite painful at first and I understand my mothers uneasiness, but the pain recedes quickly and I am back playing with all my friends.

As Spring is in full swing I really enjoy the bright warm sunshine, the lush green grass, beautiful wildflowers, chipper birds, and the now full flowing streams. My mothers milk still fancies my interest more than the grass, but she sure does enjoy the sweet grass.

By the end of Spring I got my chance to meet the long legged, long necked, clip clopping beasts that are awful pushy and get all us cows pushed into a corral. I don’t think they mean to be so pushy but they listen the humans commands very well and I kinda admire them for that. They’re not threatening, but they’re there to do a job, and a good job they do, and all with a human on their back!

I get pushed into a huge metal box with all my other calf friends and take a very bumpy, yet short, ride to my summer pasture. Once they open the door to the big metal box I am so relieved to hear my mothers call. I instantly run to her and feel right at home drinking the delicious milk.

Summers are hot around here and I’m thankful we have the Juniper trees to shade under. We have so much more room to graze and my friends and I have discovered how much farther we can run, that is, until our mothers start calling for us.

The bigger I get the more my mother tries to get me to eat the grass and drink less of that delicious milk. I’m not in agreeance. I would rather have the milk.

The hot days have come to an end and it has been cooler at night again. I really have come to enjoy the green grass and the wide open pasture. Then those long legged, long necked, clip clopping beasts come after us again. The group I was with were shaded down at the bottom of a small canyon. However, there was one long necker that came all the way down, across a rock scab and all. He got us all up and herded us back up the hill with the others. Those long neckers really know how to navigate this land!

I get pushed into one of those big metal boxes again. When we arrive at our destination, I don’t hear my mother this time. I get worried and scared, but I have one friend to share the worry with. After a few days my worry subsides, but I do, really miss that delicious milk.

I get pushed into one of those metal boxes again, this time it’s a little longer bumpy ride. I hope I’m going to see my mother. When it stops and the door opens I don’t see my mother, but about a dozen bulls. I’m terrified at first, but you learn your place quickly.

All the other bulls school us on how to be a well performing Bull. Bulls know they are in charge, that they are the leaders, the protectors. They hold no fear and when the human respects your space, you respect their’s.

So right now I will just rest under this juniper tree and enjoy my relaxation time. I will soon have a big job awaiting me.

Cows are an important resource within our country. They serve many purposes and they are smart enough to know exactly that. Our country would be a lot different without the beef or dairy industry.