It’s the simple parts of my job that are the most rewarding. That’s probably true about life in general, the simple things. My bike ride got cut short for a call, so I was a little bummed. I was running IV fluids on a down cow that gave birth this morning and realized her calf had gone several hours without a meal. I forgot to restock the truck with colostrum replacer – dang it. So I just milked the old beef cow as she laid there with her IV fluids running. I milked cows all through school as a part-time job and fed calves. It was a healthy break from all the chaos and daily stress, and didn’t require much deep thought. Nowadays, I don’t typically have a need to do it or the time, so I rely on owners or use a replacer. I got 2 quarts milked out and fed the calf and watched her come to life – wiggling, vocalizing, licking her lips, and perking up a bit. You know, it’s still amazing to watch. It turns out, that’s just what I needed – something simple, to milk a cow and feed a calf. To slow down and witness something truly incredible that I overlook every day. The bike ride certainly would’ve cleared some brain fog, but surprisingly, I think this old cow and calf did it better.
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