I am a failure

[littlecowfl]

When you raise cattle, as a business, even a hobby business, the idea is to sell cattle and make a little money. That money then goes back into the business and you continue on your merry way.

I raise and sell cows and heifers to various people and those cows are now happily employed. I also raise and slaughter steers for meat. Both of these activities meet the model for a (hobby) farm, right? Right.

I sorta broke that model with a recent decision.

How? Well, when you buy back cows you sold years ago, that would be called "failing".

Nevertheless, our herd is small and we have the room, so, the first two Dexter cows I ever bought are coming home today. In 2005, they were cute little weanlings that I picked up from a farm in Missouri. I hauled them halfway across the country to get them to my east coast farm. They gave us several calves before I sold them to someone else starting out in Dexters. Not sure what happened after that, but they changed hands a few times and ended up starving in a pasture. A nice lady bought them, fed them up, and used them as milk cows. She contacted me. I was sad to hear that they went through so much, but very happy they found a good home. Now, a year later, she asked me if I was interested in buying them because she is going through some difficulties.

My husband completely understood why I was willing to buy them back. In all fairness, when I sold them five years ago, they were bred to the young bull we had just purchased (Armstrong), but I never got to see the calves, nor did the buyer register those calves, so I have no idea what happened to them. I suppose this gives me another chance.

So, the two eleven year old matrons, Tina and Tara, are coming home today. I have missed them.

Oh yeah. I forgot. That's Tara on my avatar.

[kansasdexters]

Most of us that have been breeding and raising livestock for years are also "failures" at one time or another, by your definition. We have also bought back animals and spent countless (unpaid) hours helping someone else find a good home for cattle that they no longer want or can't care for properly. It is the sad consequence of loving the animals that we have associated with, and wanting what is best for them. Not everyone has the same level of commitment or concern for their cattle. So, hat's off to you for being their safety net, for bringing them home to safe harbor, and for being a caring human being with the resources to help others when the situation calls for such action. They needed you and you were there for them, that's what matters most.

[littlecowfl]

Thanks.

[legendrockranch]

I totally agree with Patti, we also have purchased back animals we've sold. Consider yourself in a group of caring Dexter owners.

Barb

[hoperefuge]

Yep, I'm part of that club, too!   You're not a failure at all.

Kim

[cddexter]

me too. guess that makes us an exclusive club of conscientious breeders. I think it goes along with being a breeder rather than just an owner, to whom the animals are a commodity rather than sentient beings for which we feel responsibility? Marion Clements still talks about regretting selling Cristie to a hand-selected home, who went on from there to bad to worse to awful, and didn't deserve it. John Potter has bought back a number of times, too.

So, good on yer, Alicia. You're my kind of failure

cheers, c.

[littlecowfl]

LOL! I think we could start a support group for Dexter breeders who buy back cows. It seems like I am in very good company.

[zephyrhillsusan]

littlecowfl, I think you're a hero! I'm so glad for Tina and Tara that they can be back at your place and make up for some of the hard years. Blessings, too, on the kind lady who rescued them and then contacted you. I hope they'll reward you with some lovely calves! Every time we've bought a registered dog, the breeder has made the commitment that if anything happens and we can't keep them, they'll take them back. I realize taking back a cow is a much bigger and more expensive responsibility, but being a caring enough breeder to do that could never be called a failure. Thanks for sharing Tina and Tara's "Black Beauty" story with its happy ending!

[littlecowfl]

Tina and Tara remembered me. They also remembered our trailer and hopped right in. They are home now and relaxing in familiar surroundings again. I'm sure they'll miss that kind lady, but they seem quite content being home.

Our bull was very funny. He watched the newcomers with longing in his eyes. He kept going to his gate and staring at me while I was doing chores. He never does that. I think he would like to be with the new girls. It was like he was asking 'Please, may I meet them?'. He has his little herd, but the grass is always greener (or "the cows in the other pasture are always cuter"?).

[karenp]

Apr 1, 2016 16:47:37 GMT -5 zephyrhillsusan said:

littlecowfl, I think you're a hero! I'm so glad for Tina and Tara that they can be back at your place and make up for some of the hard years. Blessings, too, on the kind lady who rescued them and then contacted you. I hope they'll reward you with some lovely calves! Every time we've bought a registered dog, the breeder has made the commitment that if anything happens and we can't keep them, they'll take them back. I realize taking back a cow is a much bigger and more expensive responsibility, but being a caring enough breeder to do that could never be called a failure. Thanks for sharing Tina and Tara's "Black Beauty" story with its happy ending!

Lower Delaware

I also thought of the ending of Black Beauty when I read this, great minds and all that...

I'm glad to hear they are coming home, it will be interesting to see what they remember.

[cheddar]

Far from a failure in my minds eye! For me, when I bring an animal into my life whether it is through breeding or adopting they always have a place in my home and heart and I have never regretted taking an animal back. Guess they had something more to teach me :-). It is the people who don't care enough to take them back that are the failures. Perhaps they have more lucrative livestock businesses :-). Hope you enjoy having them back. I am sure they are happy to be back with you!

[Dahdo]

Thanks for sharing this story. It made me smile to think of those cows coming home. And it timely because we just sold a cow and calf to a young family and this will be their first experience with cattle. I'm happy because I saw the excitement in the eyes of the kids, and Mom and Dad are enthusiastic and eager to learn. But, I'm nervous too. It would have been easier in a way to sell to an experienced breeder, knowing the animals would likely get everything they needed and not have to "teach" their new owners animal husbandry. But I guess that what I will be doing to the extent these folks will let me. Even so, I think the last thing I will tell them before they drive away later this month, is "if you change your mind or something happens and you can't do this...please call me first, I'll buy them back". I guess I'm doomed to be a failure too. Seems like I'm in good company.

[zephyrhillsusan]

That's the right kind of failure to be, Dahdo! And hopefully with that kind of support from you, you won't have to buy them back. I've wished I could introduce someone to Dexters and get them started and help them along, but so far it hasn't happened. On the other hand, I do realize I've been blessed in that so far every animal I've sold has been to another breeder--so I knew they were going to a good home.

[Pinevalleydexters]

I just joined this club. I bought back one of my cows that I sold last fall, Abby and her calf, which turned out to be red and polled. I feel really bad because she still has Indy, her bull calf and Ally. She wants way more than she paid for them, and we don't have enough hay or pasture for them. I have tried to find buyers for them but no such luck yet.

[zephyrhillsusan]

Pinevalleydexters,  I'm glad you got two of them back!  She should list the others on the ADCA website for sale page.  There really aren't many cows or heifers for sale now.  If her prices are inflated she might not get what she's asking, but the cost of an ad is really worth it--even more so if you can list more than one animal for sale.