Wow thanks for your vulnerability in sharing this. I hope you will also write about how antibiotic ladened beef affects humans resistance to antibiotics.
Thank you for writing this sad story. Hard lessons to learn.
I will have to do a bunch of research into antibiotic laden beef and how it affects human resistance to antibiotics. I am not familiar with that side of things. If you have references, feel free to send them along.
Reminiscent of E.B. White's "Death of a Pig." As a farm kid 50+ years ago, also working for and at a neighboring cattle feedlot operation, I was often the crewman tasked with administering antibiotics and hormones to animals destined for human consumption. Hindsight's 20-20, but even if the risks had been recognized back then, likely the cost-benefit math at the time would have left things in place. Now we've seen decades of the "old" antibiotics' reduced usefulness in humans and have a greater understanding of what a seamless consequential web all our administrations create over time. It's a heartbreaking task to have to have to dispose of an animal, whether a beloved partner or one otherwise destined for processing, and especially so when we have done what we can but it wasn't enough. Brutal experience teaches, and at least now you have the latest information about a health issue that may afflict other animals, and you will know just what to do. Don't beat yourself up over a lack of veterinary omniscience.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Steve. Not many people know how hard it is to be a farmer and to monitor all these animals and their health. I am so sorry for the loss of that cow, they all have their little personalities and they tug at your heartstrings, and it is hard to feel like you failed them but the truth is, you did what you could and what you knew. And unfortunately, going through something like this is sometimes necessary to expand our knowledge because lessons learned the hard way, stick longer.
I once sat all night in the barn with a sickly calf, hoping me bottle feeding her would be enough to help her get better, but by morning, she was gone- her little head still on my lap. It was devastating to me but my stepdad said - that’s farm life and things like this just happen. It’s nobody’s fault and sometimes there’s nothing more you can do. ❤️
Thank you for that information. I’m sorry you had to lose a cow to become an even more awesome farmer than you already were. I have always purchased meat that’s pasture raised and will get to have a “happy” life before it ever makes it to my table, and I’m so thankful to have a real connection to the producer too.
Thank you for taking the time to recap your experience and I am sorry for the loss of your cow. Ugh! I thought picking apples in the orchard across the street from me was tough. Ha! Then I learned about the vulnerability that apples had to the weather and insects. If you did get a good crop, then getting them all picked and into storage on a timely basis was another feat. We American consumers have things WAY too good and don't realize it.
Thanks a LOT, Alan! MOST things are much more complicated and have a lot more going on than can be seen from the surface. I seem to be saying that a lot these days... No worries.
Farming is one of the highest level problem solving jobs around. Much harder than a lot of people realize especially with the care and nuance you discuss here. Rare is it, whether human or animal, is the answer a black and white good or bad etc.
Wow thanks for your vulnerability in sharing this. I hope you will also write about how antibiotic ladened beef affects humans resistance to antibiotics.
Thank you for writing this sad story. Hard lessons to learn.
I will have to do a bunch of research into antibiotic laden beef and how it affects human resistance to antibiotics. I am not familiar with that side of things. If you have references, feel free to send them along.
Reminiscent of E.B. White's "Death of a Pig." As a farm kid 50+ years ago, also working for and at a neighboring cattle feedlot operation, I was often the crewman tasked with administering antibiotics and hormones to animals destined for human consumption. Hindsight's 20-20, but even if the risks had been recognized back then, likely the cost-benefit math at the time would have left things in place. Now we've seen decades of the "old" antibiotics' reduced usefulness in humans and have a greater understanding of what a seamless consequential web all our administrations create over time. It's a heartbreaking task to have to have to dispose of an animal, whether a beloved partner or one otherwise destined for processing, and especially so when we have done what we can but it wasn't enough. Brutal experience teaches, and at least now you have the latest information about a health issue that may afflict other animals, and you will know just what to do. Don't beat yourself up over a lack of veterinary omniscience.
Thanks a lot!
SV
Thank you for sharing this with us, Steve. Not many people know how hard it is to be a farmer and to monitor all these animals and their health. I am so sorry for the loss of that cow, they all have their little personalities and they tug at your heartstrings, and it is hard to feel like you failed them but the truth is, you did what you could and what you knew. And unfortunately, going through something like this is sometimes necessary to expand our knowledge because lessons learned the hard way, stick longer.
I once sat all night in the barn with a sickly calf, hoping me bottle feeding her would be enough to help her get better, but by morning, she was gone- her little head still on my lap. It was devastating to me but my stepdad said - that’s farm life and things like this just happen. It’s nobody’s fault and sometimes there’s nothing more you can do. ❤️
Thank you for that information. I’m sorry you had to lose a cow to become an even more awesome farmer than you already were. I have always purchased meat that’s pasture raised and will get to have a “happy” life before it ever makes it to my table, and I’m so thankful to have a real connection to the producer too.
Thanks a lot, Sunny.
SV
Thank you for taking the time to recap your experience and I am sorry for the loss of your cow. Ugh! I thought picking apples in the orchard across the street from me was tough. Ha! Then I learned about the vulnerability that apples had to the weather and insects. If you did get a good crop, then getting them all picked and into storage on a timely basis was another feat. We American consumers have things WAY too good and don't realize it.
Thanks a LOT, Alan! MOST things are much more complicated and have a lot more going on than can be seen from the surface. I seem to be saying that a lot these days... No worries.
Farming is one of the highest level problem solving jobs around. Much harder than a lot of people realize especially with the care and nuance you discuss here. Rare is it, whether human or animal, is the answer a black and white good or bad etc.