05/25/2026
Today is one of those days that flat suck in farming. It’s the kind of day that makes me a terrible farmer. Young young bull, Demand, started acting funny about 3 days ago. I fed him, we gave him a shot, watched him close. Still no improvement and truly feeling worse. Called one vet asking his opinion, did a mineral oil treatment because we noticed he hadn’t pooped and could have a possible prolapse. He went down shortly after. Called the emergency vet and after a sonogram of his belly, it was quickly determined his bladder had ruptured. Possible calcium stone.
My poor Demand went from healthy to fatal in 3 days and no way to tell. If you have been around our cattle, they are all super docile and well loved. I feel like a failure even though there’s absolutely no way I could have known. The vet said it was possibly genetic and even if I had caught it, the outcome would have been the same.
I feel have for us, for our herd, all the losses you feel as a farmer. As a wife, I feel heavier because my husband had to put our buddy down. He had to pull the trigger and make it final. I’m thankful for a man who can do it even when I know his heart is hurting like mine.
As Doug prepares to bury him, on our hill of a Thousand Hills, I marvel at how beautiful his resting place is. I wish he had more time to roam these fields, to sow his oats. Not just for a monetary reason, but because watching this herd has connected us in a whole new way to Gods beauty.
Rest well my friend. May you watch over the herd from above. Demand 9/13/25-5/25/26
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
The wealth in ev'ry mine;
He owns the rivers and rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell -
He is my Father so they're mine as well;
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills -
I know that He will care for me.