THE GOOD SHEPHERD GOAT FARM

ALYSSA & HERSHEY

 

In 2003 my daughter Alyssa 12 years old, purchased her first ever Brown Swiss dairy calf.  She bought him at 5 days old as a bottle calf  for $75 and named him HERSHEY!

She couldn't have LOVED this calf more if she had birthed him herself!  They spent many hours together Brushing, Walking, Talking, and learning to stand properly.  He was as tame as a good dog and would do ANYTHING Alyssa wanted.

They were "IN LOVE"

 

By Fair & Show Day they were a fine tuned pair.  Our great friend Wayne helped Alyssa learn to clip and put on the finishing touches.

They Walked into the Show Ring PROUD & HAPPY!

If I may say so (as a mom) they two stood out  from all others!

The whole family was Soo... excited.  Alyssa & Hershey had worked so hard and they looked FANTASTIC out there in the show ring.

Well, the judge thought the same and even said, that from the time Hershey entered the show ring he stood out from all others in his class!  I've never seen Alyssa more excited. (as you can tell in this picture)

So, she went through the sale ring and received her premium and then took Hershey home to finish out as next years

"DAIRY MARKET STEER PROJECT"

Alyssa & Hershey remained best friends and spent many hours preparing for next years BIG EVENT!

One Saturday morning early Spring I noticed from the kitchen window that something was wrong!

Hershey was acting unusual.  I sent Alyssa out to check on him.  She came back in very upset saying Hershey was prolapsing.  I went out to check him.  He was very uncomfortable, straining and kicking at his stomach.  After talking to one Vet who said (without coming out to look at him) he would live till Monday and then slaughter him.  That sent all us girls into a histerical crying fit!!  So I contacted another vet who got an attitude because we had called the other vet and said he didn't feel like he should worry about getting there since we had contacted someone else.

I called the breeder  we bought Hershey from in tears and told him the whole story.  He in return contacted the last Vet and told him he needed to get to our farm. "WHAT A NIGHT MARE" 

By the time the Vet got to our farm (& in no hurry) Hershey was laying flat on his side in the field in PAIN!!

Hershey has kidney stones.  His bladder was so full there was concern it would rupture before the surgery was over.

It took four of us to hold him up after he was given a sedative so the surgery could be done. 

(I could tell another whole story on what all happened during the surgery)

The surgery was complete and now Hershey urinated in a whole new way.  LIKE A GIRL!!

It was an awful summer trying to keep him clean and from getting scalded from the urine running down his rear end & under  & between his legs.  I often woundered if we had done the right thing?

Well, Alyssa & Hershey made it to the Fair! "IT WAS LITERALLY A MIRICLE"

Now we are in the barn with a steer who can unrinate 12 feet straight out the back (I messured it a home).

My husband rigged a sort of shower curtain deal behind Hershey.  For the most part that worked.  Except for the few times Hershey hit the curtain with his tail and opened it.  This caused a few problems for people passing by.  I tell you, if we had our camera set up we would have won "Americas Funniest Video's"

It was show day! (I couldn't believe we had actually made it this far)  Alyssa begged the beef committee to let her walk in last with Hersey.  They agreed that was probably best!  Now we prayed Hershey would just hold his bladder while the judge was passing behind him and during the show. 

Alyssa & Hershey pulled off what could have been a TRAGIC or FUNNY event!

The judge spotted Hershey's problem and said he just couldn't put Hershey first in the show with his condition.

BUT, he gave him

"RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION"

Another Miracle

(Ask me, he looks pretty good for what he's been through!)

 

SALE DAY CAME!

We just couldn't take Hershey home this time!

I was of no help consoling Alyssa & her sisters because, the men on the beef committee we trying to console me!

We were all a wreck!  Four women crying like Babies.

It was the BEST & the WORST all rolled up into one little steer!

He stole our hearts and we are all different today because of our time with him!

 

SO I DEDICATE THIS PAGE TO MY LITTLE GIRL & HER "BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD FOR A COW"

HERSHEY

 

Just a little note, the next year Hershey's full blooded brother experienced the same problem.

Waiting for the Vet. with Hershey's brother

He lived but,

This time we couldn't make it to the fair!

The Beef Committee still today see's us pulling in and asks what excitment we are bringing with us this time!