2003-11-03 - 7:52 a.m.
Each year we feed out a steer or heifer to have slaughtered and put in our freezer. Most are pretty well tempered and once they get used to being away from the rest of the herd and eating feed they settle down to a comfortable pattern of watching for the feed to come each day, eating and sleeping. They usually get a little feisty because they feel so good in the cool weather of the fall and all the food they're eating but they're generally good natured.
This years steer is a bit different. He's just plain mean. When Sue and I went to put him up to start feeding him he nearly ran Sue over charging her. Getting him up was an adventure as I tried to get him to go in the lot, all the while checking the best escape route as he kept trying to run me out of the pasture. Even behind the 6 strand Hi-Tensile electric fence I don't trust him. Cattle don't usually bug me like that. I used to work herds for other farmers in South Georgia giving shots, castrating and dehorning and only every now and then would you get one that was really out to get you like this steer. The chickens are on the other side of the fence from him and I won't even let Becky go feed them alone any more till this steer is gone. My brother in law, Jimmy, cut up a tree that had fallen in the lot and there is still some wood left he didn't get picked up. I told him when he was ready to get it to give me a call and I would go in with him and keep an eye on the steer while he loaded. I told him I just wouldn't turn my back on this one.
His days are numbered though and this is one steer I'll be happy to see meet his fate at the slaughter house. About the end of November we plan to take him off. When we load him he'll have one more chance to get me and you can believe I'm going to watch him close.
