sent the Freemartin heifers yesterday

Cheryl aka JM · #1 09/26/12, 07:14 AM

Some of you might remember the whole fiasco where I discovered two of my "Future milkers" were freemartins. Well Two years later I sent the girls to the processor yesterday. I hated to do it, and it was harder than I expected. They both loaded right on the rig no real trouble (ok, one tried to leap out that tiny access door and was stuck with one leg and half her chest out the trailer, we thought we were gonna have to shoot her and cut her in half but she got out with a little help from us). Any way they loaded on the trailer pretty easy but didn't want to get off the trailer. They new the processor was not where they wanted off. I felt bad, but it had to be done.

The girls were approx 28 months old and BIG. I thought much bigger than the 18 month old steers I sent in two years ago. Turns out they were about the same size and one a bit smaller. One was 499lbs hanging and the other was 532 hanging.

I sold half to a forum member here and she is keeping one of the hides, I rolled and froze it for her. I kept the other hide. I'm not sure why I kept it, I don't have any use for it at all and I'm so busy I feel like I've been burning the candle at both ends for too long, but I'm gonna try scraping the fat and salting it today. Any fine words of wisdom much appreciated.

I know it had to be done, and it was my responsibility to get it taken care of, and I'm so very glad its over with. But I'm also pretty glad I didn't save any of these two for me to eat. The bull calf that goes in next week is for me to eat.

cathleenc · #2 09/26/12, 08:20 AM

hugs. I would have been in tears leading up to the event. Glad you got it behind you and ita on having the bull calf for your food!

**gone-a-milkin** · #3 09/26/12, 08:41 PM

How has it already been 2 years?

Those heifers had a good life on your place.
I am sure they will make delicious meals for the next person.

I bet you arent too sad about the lessened feed bill this winter.

Good job.

myersfarm · #4 09/27/12, 02:30 PM

I have the same problem with my bulls I eat after 5 or 6 years....I eat because i can not get very much a pound for a 6 year old bull....after a week of not finding them on the farm walking around it ...makes it easier when I cook a steak 3 weeks later hanging time

Jennifer L. · #5 09/27/12, 07:13 PM

It's hard sometimes, getting rid of animals, but let me tell you, freemartins are the BEST beef you'll ever have.