That's A Whole Lotta Bull

Posted by Rich | Posted in Cattle, Photos | Posted on 28-06-2011

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After getting our ducks in a row, our schedules were cleared and we were able to visit Kim’s ranch.  We had been in contact with a Ms. Kim Johnson of Birch Lake Farm about some cattle.

We hit the road, with trailer in tow, to the small ranch near the Metro.  The bull, Eldorado, is who/what we were interested in.  When we (Carol, Madison & myself) arrived, Eldorado was in a corral, in the center of the ranch.  He was silver-dun, in color, with a beautiful set of  thick, symmetrical horns.

Eldorado

Here is our new bull

Eldorado is a big boy.  Probably bigger than we would have liked, but after talking with Kim, we decided he was a good fit.  Kim has small cattle and so do we.  She described the bull as a gentle breeder – he gets the job done, then get off of the cow/heifer.  With our small fold, we did not want a bull that rides the females longer than he needs.  If a big bull rides the cows too long, he can break them down.

After a tour of Kim’s ranch, we were on our way, back to the farm.  Once home, we unloaded him in the paddock where the other cattle were located.  In a few moments, Eldorado was heading to the cows and the cows were coming to greet him.  Then the bulls met.  Sampson, our dud, didn’t like the new bull meeting his ladies.  After a few seconds of growling and some manure slinging, the boys started bumping heads.

fighting bulls

Sampson (left) & Eldorado (right)... bumping head.

The boys played King-of-the-Pasture for an hour.  Unfortunately for Sampson, Eldorado was able to push his smaller, younger opponent all over the place.  Two times, Eldorado was able to lift Sampson up into the air and shove him back 15-20 ft.  At the end of it all, Sampson was huffing and puffing as he walked away in defeat.  Eldorado… well… he was barely breathing hard.  He then let out a victorious moo and that was it.  The cows and heifers surrounded him as if to hail their new king.  Sampson was nowhere to be seen.

The good news is that the following day, after the dust settled, all is good on the high prairies.  Eldorado is with an alpha female and Sampson is stuck hanging with the calves.

Related posts:

  1. An Aunt Of A Friend Of A Friend – No Bull.
  2. Curly – I Almost Forgot He Went Home
  3. The Calves… They Are A Coming
  4. Our First Calf Arrived Early
  5. Baby Calves: 1st Day In The Pasture