Sale tips and goodbyes…
I was away for a bit last week… you might not have noticed, thanks to the wonders of blog-scheduling. But you will have to trust me on this: I was away from Granite Glen for about 36 very hectic hours. We went to a cattle sale some 5 hours drive from away (little woman in tow, Dash happily sleeping over with some friends) and SSB and I climbed onto the sharp learning curve that is a stud bull sale.
…
I won’t bore you with too many details, however these are among the things I DID learn:
1. Always, always pack wellies (check) and lots of warm clothes (ummmm) when travelling south in Australia. And umbrellas. Umbrellas are remarkable items when the heaven’s open. I speak from experience.
2. Never send your husband and father off with too many instructions, or even too long a checklist – they tune out after checkbox number 2.
3. Specially-made spaghetti bolognaise (for your demanding three-year-old) in a restaurant is no guarantee of a properly-eaten meal.
4. Ice-cream, however, is.
5. Don’t get too caught up in planning outfits you wish to wear to a bull sale – the one you have cattle in is bound to be held smack in the middle of a deluge of cold drizzling rain. Therefore anything you wear is hidden under rubber boots and drizabones and MUD. Guaranteed.
6. Don’t get caught up in washing and polishing your bulls too much before a sale. See second half of explanation in #5. (except our bulls don’t wear drizabones and boots… but they should have!).
7. Don’t get too personally attached to the animals you prepare for sale… or you may get a bit emotional when someone else takes them home. See example below:
This is Quota… who I adore. And my hubby. Ditto. Quota was the very first bull in the sale, which is a tough spot to fill. Most people weren’t even sitting down yet.
Hello big fella. You OK? I would come out and give you a cuddle, but I don’t think that’s protocol here in the world of serious stud cattle breeders. But you know I want to.
It was nerve-wracking as anything watching the hammer fall on my big black buddy. Apparently a nice man bought him to take back to a sweet mob/harem of Brangus girls. I hope he is a good boy for his new owner. I’m sure gonna miss him round here.
Bye, bye Quota!
Luckily I get to take the beast on the left home with me. That softens the blow a little.
11 Comments
Kate
By Quota! He is beautiful. You husband is right in there with him! All the bulls round here are mean. You don’t get anywhere near them. Aussie bulls must be very different! Do you have new ones at home to fill these boys places?
Portia
Love that last picture of SSB and Quota. I’m still amazed that he can stand there with Quota so close.
You are lucky to be bringing that studly beast on the left home. (Do they call handsome men studs in Australia? We do here)
Nice job on the new header.
Portia
Debby
Just how many studs do you need, BB?
jeanie
Awww – it just makes you want to cuddle him.
Quota, I mean!!
OneCowgirl
Great looking bull – but I”m glad you brought home the beast on the left!
Pencil Writer
Wow! Quota (I thought all your cattle had numbers rather than names???) is quite the handsome bull, and so docile. But then, as you’ve said, you do look for that very quality.
When you name rather than number them, I imagine it makes it a little harder to turn loose of them. *sigh*.
But then, as you and others mentioned, you do have that bloke on the left to comfort all your tears away. ;-}
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
Hello all!
PW – yes I should have explained the whole “we only name them when they are heading for the show or sale ring” thing, shouldn’t I? Quota was originally Q094 – his name had to start with Q, and I chose Quota. Suited him. He wasn’t a Quentin somehow.
OneCowGirl – thanks! And me too!!
Jeanie – I KNEW what you meant! Heh.
Debbie – I need lots and lots of the one on the right (to help feed and cloth us all!) and just one of the one on the left. I know my limits!
Portia – thanks! thanks and thanks… Aussie men are called studs when one of their mates is taking the P*** – it’s an understood tag, but not one taken very seriously! I guess our equivalent is “good sort”…
Kate – we think temperament is really important with bulls. If they are rodeo bulls (which is probably what you see most of on TV) they can seem mean, but we want our bulls easy to handle and passing on good genetics to their progeny (calves). If you are interested click here to check out an earlier post I did on this very subject. Be careful of the last photo though – it IS scary!!
Hugs all
BB
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
PS Was Portia the only one to notice the new header? Or did the rest of you like the old one better??
Kate
I’m sorry i didn’t notice it until i read Portia’s comment! I get so excited to read the posts that i just scroll right down. i really like the new one, good job. And i love the saying. Very apt. Love it!
Kate
Just read the older post and it explained everything! Thanks very much. I guess i am used to seeing rodeo bulls but even the bulls just in the fields round here are mean. You certainly can’t go in the paddock or field with them. I live in a ranching/farming town so there are quite a few bulls about and they all seem a bit hostile. Maybe it’s just me 😉 Anyhoo, love your bulls and I’m a bit scared of your daughter 🙂 she can certainly take care of herself!
rhubarbwhine
I know which one I would like to take home 🙂