I’m Sorry, Rosebud.

© Jerry Davis  5-4-00 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know we shouldn’t have given you a name.  Giving you a name made you a family member.  

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know you were the smartest cow we had and you always listened and watched for us coming with the feed pickup. 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know it will be tough for the rest of the herd cows to manage without you; but they will just have to learn to deal without your leadership.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  The next lead cow hasn’t been chosen yet.  Cows make their decisions in ways I don’t always understand. 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  With all your skills of knowing when to follow or when to graze made you stand out above the rest.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.   If we had understood you were mineral deficient, we would have tried to do better.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You had calves and more calves and served you time here on the ranch well.  If your peers could read better we would put up a plaque honoring you in front of others.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.   I don’t think the others even knew your name but I know they understood when you told them in your own way that feed was on the way.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  We knew that sometime we would have to say bye to you but we certainly didn’t expect it to end this way.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You did get a decent family burial with dignity.  A dozer put your carcass below varmint level so your bones won’t be distributed across the pasture like some other unfortunate animals have been.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You did make it a little difficult when you bellowed at your calf when he came to pay his final respects before your last day.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You can rest well knowing your calf was of weaning age and hasn’t been back looking for you after your last day.  Calves only mourn for 3 days so he is Ok by now.

I’m sorry, Rosebud. Your last meal was one of your favorites, I didn’t have to even ask; grain cubes, fresh hay and water.  It was no burden for me to hand it to you, a family member.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  It was appropriate for you to blow and snort your nose on me but I still couldn’t make you get over your paralysis.  

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You could have a least blinked or closed your bright eyes at the very last moment as I tried not to think of you as a family member that had to be destroyed.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  We have retired your number.  

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