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   Driving home over the weekend, we saw a field of cows, some with little calves, This brought to mind experiences I had with the cow/calf operation over the years. For the most part, working with the cow and having baby calves was enjoyable, but from time to time, mistakes were made.

   One late summer afternoon, we were rounding up the cattle to sort off the bull. He had enjoyed a good life for a couple of years and it was his time to go to town. He had grown to over a ton and I had saved daughters from him as replacement stock. Three or four of us on horseback found him in the timber with a half dozen cows. We drove the small herd toward the temporary corral we had set up by the stock trailer. It was a pleasant ride as he sauntered along with his cows. Surprisingly, they went into the corral with no problem. We sorted off the cows and the old bull stood quietly until the last cow was sent out of the gate. He then decided he did not want to be left alone. I was surprised to see such a large animal jump a five-foot gate without touching it. I jumped on my horse and took off trying to head him off before he reached the timber. Only thinking about stopping the running bull, I pulled out my lariat and threw a loop at him. Fortunately, I am not a professional roper. As soon as my rope missed, I thought how fortunate I was. A thousand-pound horse being tied to a running two-thousand-pound bull would have ended badly. That was a mistake I never made again.

   Like people, cows all have different personalities. Some are gentle and friendly, and some are a bit more reserved. Still others are downright unpleasant. We had a Charolais cow, #32, that tended toward the unpleasant side until she had a calf. When she had a calf to protect, she was meaner than a snake. One spring I was riding my horse, Diamond, through the pastures checking the cows to make sure nobody was having trouble calving. I found most of the cows strung about through the timber and brush but could not find #32. I rode for quite a while before I found a shiny white calf hidden in some tall grass. I knew it had to belong to #32 and not seeing her anywhere close, I decided to dismount and tag it. I got the tag ready, jumped down and started toward the calf. Before I could touch the new baby, Diamond and I both heard the momma cow coming. She would kill a grizzly bear to protect her calf. Diamond decided to save himself. He spun around as I lunged toward the saddle horn. He jerked me off my feet and I landed in the saddle as he took off at full speed. #32 hit him in the side before we could escape the area. Diamond maintained his footing and we got out of there before any more damage could be done. From that point on, no amount of encouragement would get diamond anywhere near #32. She was a good mother and produced great calves, but she went to town that fall. I could not take the chance of me or somebody else getting between her and her calf.

   I enjoyed the years of having cows and managed to live through it with no major injuries even though mistakes were made occasionally.

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