Post by shire on Jun 21, 2015 23:40:50 GMT -5
What's the best way to disconnect from your steers when you take them to freezer camp. I took my two at the end of May and still having problems with it. I raised them as bottle calves at a week old. I tried to disconnect from them but they were so sweet and never did anything wrong. They were already sold except for our half so I couldn't back out. One of them use to follow me everywhere and he always had a light moo for me when he would see me. I feel like I let them down. I seriously just walked up into the trailer and they both followed me in. When we got to the butcher they heard a pig squeal and they looked so scared. They didn't want to get out of the trailer. It was a big ordeal to get them out. Once one was out I went and petted him at the chute. He immediately relaxed and looked calm. They opened the gate and he went in without anymore difficulty. Same with the other steer. He was wide eyed in the chute so I pet him and he calmed almost immediately. They trusted me and I feel like I let them down. I said a small thank you to each one before they left the chute. Is it normal to feel this way with the first ones. I cried the first two days after. I still find myself emotional when I see their picture or am out working on the fences. Also now we have a freezer full of their meat that is very good but I pretend it's store bought. my husband hid the tongue, heart, and liver at the bottom and I found it and started crying when I saw the tongue because I started thinking about them licking my hands. Please tell me the next ones will be easier. Our next freezer steers were also bottle fed. Not looking forward to sending them. Then the next generation will be from our currently pregnant heifers. I wish they had at least broke something before they left so I could be relieved they left but instead I feel guilty and I miss them. Beginning to wonder if I will even be able to send the next set. I have been more than OCD with this meat. I'm determined to not waste a single ounce of it. At least if they sacrificed their life for me to eat I can make sure they don't go to waste. My mom actually made me angry because she told me she probably wouldn't even eat all the heart and liver she received. I want to scream at her. These were my calves and that bothers me...Somehow I got to attached to my steers and barely attached to my pet heifers. :/