07/01/2025
Farming of any kind is not an easy undertaking. Farming with animals takes on a whole new level because if something goes wrong it’s not just a plant that dies, it’s a whole other being; a living, breathing entity.
This is not a post I thought I’d have to make for many years. Even three weeks ago I would have chuckled had it been suggested to me this was in the cards for us. But here I am.
Ginger, our very first dairy cow, died this last Saturday morning. We owned her for 4 years and she was the best beginner cow, best cow, anyone could ask for. She almost never lifted a foot at milking time, she was patient with mistakes, she accepted neck scratches, she never got sick or had bad milk. She birthed beautiful calves and never needed help. She had the best personality; curious and stubborn and funny. She loved her babies to a fault and was top boss in the herd. She was a perfect cow all around.
Three weeks ago I noticed a puncture spot on her lip. A few days after my initial discovery she had a fever and couldn’t eat. I worked with a vet and a dairy mentor to treat her and as long as she was on meds she seemed “okay.” But she couldn’t eat well and lost weight quickly. We discovered in this time that it must have been a snake bite on her lip that was causing the issue. A week later she quit eating all together and wouldn’t come to the barn for milking. A week after that she was gone. Long hours were spent by her side in the sun and heat; carrying water, putting up shade cloth, giving meds and fluids and probiotics. We did all we could to help her, but in the end it was just too much for her to recover from. She was too young, too promising, too good a cow… but now she’s gone. My head still can’t quite wrap itself around the idea. It went so fast and so slow at the same time. So out of the blue.
I will look for her in the field for a long time to come. I’ll miss her funny ways in the milk barn. I’ll miss her curiosity and friendliness. I’ll miss her rich milk. I will miss her.
This is farming. I don’t regret choosing this life, it’s still my dream come true, but I pray we don’t have to experience it again for a long, long time.
“the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
Goodbye, Ginger.
