I know this is the goat forum, but I am at home here. The sun is shining on a cold morning..beautiful. Hubby came in from chores this morning and I knew by looking at him that something was very wrong. Victoria, our Dexter herd queen, was down in the gateway. She could not stand.
Victoria, although not that ancient for a Dexter, had a huge tumor inside. She had it when she first arrived here, years ago. It slowly got bigger over the years, but she could still get around good and even gave birth, much to our surprise.
We have been cutting back on the Dexters and kept her because she would never have found a home. We knew the day would come and I guess it has, today. One of her mourners is her last calf. A little bull calf that thankfully is well weaned.
With tears in his eyes, my sweet man shot his herd queen. The small herd that is left didn't leave her side before she passed and haven't left her side since. They have taken turns, like sentries, making sure nothing bothers her. A backhoe will come later today..and bury our dear girl with the rest of the original Dexter herd that we bought. All will be together. For you see, when we bought our unique little herd, the elderly lady made us promise to keep them together..always. Today, sadly, we finished keeping that promise.
Victoria was the most aloof of our Dexters. Her comfort zone was 10 ft. But she liked us..she just didn't have time to quit "working". She was a true herd queen. Not because she bullied..she didn't. But because she kept watch on the homestead. I never wondered if anything was amiss on the place..I just looked for Victoria. If anything was moving, she would bead in on it like a hunting dog. She wouldn't break it until her perceived threat was out of the homestead range. She baby sat..she fed another cow's calf when the momma could no longer do so. She watched over her beloved herd and us.
I'm glad I am trying to type this instead of trying to tell you friends about her. I can't seem to quit crying this morning. I guess that's okay too. We will never own another cow like Victoria and now she is gone. I guess it's okay to weep.
I just felt like sharing about her. Our bull is lost. He was raised here, he's never known another herd queen. She was the first one he had to fight in order to take over the herd. She was such a good queen that it made his life easier. He is lost and mourning.
Thank you for letting me pour out a piece of my heart today.
Victoria and her last calf..last summer.
Victoria of Diamonds
Victoria and her calf and another calf that she nursed for an ailing "friend".
Thank you Vicky.
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