The
Cross Diamond Chronicle Bulls B red FORD Tough! www.crossdiamondcattle.com October 2019, Volume 12
Building on a foundation of basic traits. Basic-- forming an essential foun-
dation or starting point; fundamental. We have always emphasized maternal traits in our cow herd. We see fertility, udder quality, foot and leg structure, good disposition, fleshing ability and calvability as basic traits that every animal should carry. This creates the foundation on which bull and heifer buyers can build on. Why build on a strong foundation? Matthew 7:25 says, "And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." Often, we see the work of God most clearly in challenging times. A foundation of faith in Christ, our Rock, is the primary message we all need. Now for the secondary message. Weather is key in agriculture. Matthew's description creates a vivid picture in the minds of those whose days and livelihoods are tied closely with the weather.
Thousands of cattle were lost to weather this past year. The estimates are staggering. Take a look at ncdc.noaa,gov/billions/events for particulars. But maybe we need to change perspective and be thankful for the fact that ANY survived. Clearly, the severity of the weather meant that many cattle perished regardless of their quality or genetics. However, many DID survive. The stewardship part for us comes in studying these survivors and knowing if they carry a strong foundation to build upon. A calm cow who produces a live calf every year on available resources with soundness and longevity is one who does not easily fall. These are the ones to build upon.
At right: udder and feet of a 10-year-old cow. She weathered the past winter well and has a calving interval of 367 days on 9 calves. She’s solid to build on!