Steer - August 5, 2010
Some slip the bunch,
miss appointments,
take leave with mothers
for greener pastures
or adventure, led
by the same threads
as we—the tug
and pull we trust
as special, as just
another way
to graze
what others miss.
Steer - October 15, 2011
Bull - October 15, 2011
The Wagyu X steer and his mother (937) showed-up in the pasture in which she was raised after the rest of the Wagyu calves were weaned and shipped in May of 2010. Likewise, the bull appeared with his mother in another pasture, having missed branding (though he got an iron as a yearling). We could have sold them in town with no premium, but we wanted to see what they might grow into and feed ourselves at the same time. The bull weighed 1,200 lbs., the steer, 1,100 lbs, when we started them on grain for 60 days—not the longer feeding régime as employed by Snake River Farms. Another experiment, Robbin and I have a half of each—the burger’s great, top sirloin tonight!
drycrikjournal 