10/03/2026
The life of Declan
Declan was rejected by his dam, and fought through joint ill and almost going blind.
I stayed up late with him, woke up early, treated him around the clock with homeopathy, and took him to the vet for antibiotics when we needed to.
He became the first Periwinkle Photography Companion, and brought in a few thousand dollars for feed and supplies through his Photography and Petting Zoo outings.
He loved scratches on his neck, and was the attention hog everywhere he went.
But sometimes the dreams and plans we have for an animal long term just don’t work. As he got older, he got more territorial. He had big horns, and wasn’t afraid to use them. While he never hurt a human, I suspect he’s the reason my matriarch Nubian doe is dead, and a second is injured.
Part of me feels guilty that I don’t feel worse about the decision I made to process him. But that’s honestly life on a farm.
Mini cows can live to be 45; but they don’t need to if they don’t behave in the role you have for them. And as livestock, cows can be repurposed into something extremely valuable: food for a growing family.
Declan lived a very good life for a steer. And I am thankful for the experience and wisdom I’ve gained from raising him.
I also had my husband cut out two Thor’s Hammers for a fancy Christmas dish this winter!
