Sad News on the Ranch

I got Pretty Cow and her “fatted calf” Beefcake almost a year ago. My plan was to have a family milk cow and sell any milk we didn’t use ourselves. At first this worked out, but I haven’t gotten her rebred as quickly as I had hoped and she doesn’t have as much milk as planned for. Added to decreased milk production, I’ve had major problems with my big True Glass Door Merchandizer refrigerator. First, the temp control wouldn’t cool things to the appropriate temperature for milk and dairy products. I made adjustments to the controller and we were golden for a few weeks. Yesterday, I went to check the temperature for the daily log (after missing a day to take my best friend to the airport) and found all the bottled milk had frozen, ruptured all the glass bottles, and made a giant mess. I unplugged the big fridge and walked away, planning to clean up the mess in the morning.

This morning, after chores, I decided I couldn’t put off cleaning up the mess in the True fridge. The milk was just beginning to thaw out and drip onto the case of bottled water I had on the bottom shelf. There was broken milk bottle glass all over the shelves with milk bottles. Most of the bottles still had frozen milk in them. I moved the trash can closer and started taking the damaged bottles out, setting them into the trash can. I should have put my gloves on for this, but only cut the base of my left thumb and near my inner elbow. First aid supplies are everywhere at our ranch so I didn’t add bleeding to the existing mess.

After losing all my milk and all my milk bottles, I have made the decision to get Pretty Cow bred as quickly as possible by artificial insemination (Female Holstein straws) and then offer her for sale. I’m giving up on selling milk and will purchase milk from friends for us to drink and to make cheese.

I’m hoping there is a family out there that wants to add Holsteins to their homestead. Pretty has been very sociable and easy to work with since I got her. I will be very sad to let her go, but I have to be realistic on what I can do at my age, and running a diary isn’t in the cards any longer. Please reach out if you are interested, or have a friend that might want to purchase my cow.

Pretty Cow at her hay feeder munching on Bermuda Grass