Hey Everyone -   For my Intro to Animal Science class one of our assignments is to train an animal and then we will be showing those animals in a livestock show called the Little International.  This is a graded assignment for this class.    There are 140 students in this class and we were all assigned different animals that we signed up for.  In my ignorance I chose a beef cow not understanding that of all the animals we could choose from (beef cows, dairy cows, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens) that the beef cows were the most challenging of all the animals.  Basically all of these calves were weaned at 6 months of age.  Prior to being weaned they had absolutely no human contact.  They were in a great big pasture with their mom's and then they were weaned and put into pens and we arrived and picked them out and gave them names.  So basically these are feral animals.  We took charge of them exactly one week after they were separated from their mom's.                                                  We arrived at the beef cow barn on the first night and were told to pick out a calf.  Now I'm sure that when I say calf many of you begin to think to yourselves "how cute - it's a baby".  A month and a half ago when this process started these "babies" weighed over 500 pounds.  There were two breeds of beef calves for us to choose from and once again, in my ignorance, I chose a Black Angus over a Hereford only to discover afterwards that the Angus cows are much "crazier" than the Herefords.  Naturally I tried to pick a really small calf thinking the smaller the better as these animals were intimidating.  Sadly my cow is a good eater and in the ensuing month and half she has gained close to 200 pounds and is currently weighing in at almost 700 pounds and is one of the largest cows in the bunch.   My cow is number 711 and I named her TBone.

On our first night after selecting our cows they were cut from their pens and herded into a chute system (a lot like what you see in western movies) and once in the chute a halter was put on them, they were released from the chute, and then two guys "wrangled" them to the fence where they were tied.  This is how they learn to be haltered.  Let's just say that my first night learning to train a beef cow to be shown and every other night I have been there have been a lot like the rodeos you see on tv.   These "babies" are pretty big and scary and are not overly thrilled about us humans.  So despite tremendous fear of great personal bodily harm I have diligently been working with my cow and am pleased to say that unlike many other students I have not been kicked or dragged once yet.    TBone is still a pretty skittish cow but we are making good progress and she will now walk on a lead rope with me a few steps at a time.  This may not sound like much but there are still many people who have not been able to accomplish this task with their cow yet.    In just 3 short weeks I am hoping to have TBone trained enough to be bathed, groomed, and to be able to be led on a lead rope to be shown at the Little International Show.  I think the chances of that happening are around 50%.  Rebecca Well Rebecca's prediction of 50/50 was way off........... SHE WON FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!! KICK ASS!!!

The other 50% indicate that it is just as likely that she will drag me around the arena the day of the show bucking and mooing like the crazy wild animal she mostly is.  By show day I anticipate that she will be at least 750-800 pounds if she keeps gaining like she has been so there's a lot of potential for mayhem there.  Either of these two scenarios are certain to provide those that know me with much entertainment.