Well, it's been 10 months, but the cows are finally back home. You may recall that last summer, due to the drought, I had to relocate my cattle. They had already consumed all the grass on our ranch, as well as a few bales of hay. Thankfully, one of our customers generously provided us with fallow, former row crop land to temporarily house the cows. Although it was covered in weeds and mature Johnson Grass, it proved sufficient to sustain the cows for a few months.

By early winter, the grass on the temporary land had been completely depleted, necessitating another move for the cows. Fortunately, my father-in-law had sold most of his herd earlier in the year, and there was some regrowth in the pasture at his place. As a result, I relocated the majority of the cows there. Meanwhile, I brought the pregnant cows back to Amber Oaks Ranch to closely monitor them during calving season. Despite the challenging circumstances, I was able to procure enough hay bales, albeit at high prices (stratospheric as opposed to astronomical), to sustain the herd through the winter months.

This spring, we've been blessed with abundant rain, and the grass has made a remarkable comeback. So, we gathered up the cattle and brought them back home. Cattle are truly incredible creatures. Despite the limited amount and poor quality of grass, they have rebounded quite well.

The reunion was a truly joyous occasion. It brought together four generations of cattle, allowing them to get reacquainted. For the past six months, the adult cows, along with their newborn calves, had been separated from the younger ones, the two-year-old's and one-year-olds. As they were reunited, there was a flurry of sniffing and gentle licks exchanged among the familiar faces, and the older members of the herd warmly welcomed the youngest additions to the family. Among them, Yoshi, our Akaushi bull, was particularly elated. His excitement was palpable as he happily rejoined the ladies, wasting no time in fulfilling his responsibilities.

Interestingly, having all the cows back home has lifted my spirits. I'm not sure if it was the anxiety of them being away or the sight of 60 head of cattle happily munching grass in my backyard, but I feel a great sense of contentment now that things have "returned to normal." Cows are incredibly therapeutic and good for the soul—I wish everyone could experience life on the farm. Perhaps reading these newsletters brings you just a little closer.

 

Wishing you a blessed Memorial Day!