Final Glance

This upload is specially for myself. It's the final eye contact made with a favoured bullock as he heads up the crush into the truck that will take him to slaughter today - something I do with mixed feelings. I'm sad to see him go but take pride in a good product and the load we sent away today were good bullocks. Let's hope the market pays a price that matches their quality. However I fear this will not be the case. We are facing a very depressed market at the moment with the drought forcing cattle into the sale yards and the subsequent oversupply driving prices down. View large if you have time to see that last glance for yourself.

[Jane Anderson]

I can understand your mixed feelings with this last eye contact. I've heard that beef and milk prices are going to rise here in the US. I'm sorry that is not the case in Australia.

[frances]

Thanks for sharing this. Helps us all think a bit harder about the food chain and those involved in it.

[Margaret Pengelly]

@cejaanderson @attieno thank you both for dropping by. I love how 365 allows us to share aspects of daily life with each other. You seem to learn or think about something new every day.

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

I think I would have the same feelings, in fact I'm not sure I would cope. Nice capture and that bullock is giving you the eye.

[Judith Johnson]

Quite eerie, seeing that eye looking out for the last time. Nice composition, and I like the flowers too.

[Sue Wilde]

This is a fabulous shot. I love that single eye. Hope your cattle do OK, but as you say, the market is very depressed.

[Jan]

Cows' eyes are so soulful - as if they know their fate! I wouldn't cope very well either. I hope you get a fair price.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

I don't know if I could do it so I admire your pluck! When my father was young, my grandparents were raising beef cows on some farm property they had. My father and his siblings grew attached to one particular cow and named him Buster. I don't think it was ever explained to them that Buster was not a pet. One night the family was enjoying hamburgers and my grandfather asked if anyone knew why the burgers tasted so good. The children offered a few suggestions and then my grandfather said, "These burgers taste so good because this is Buster!" and that was the end of that meal! Everyone was crying!

[Poppo Livy]

I hope this is not the same one we were all admiring a couple of weeks ago

[Cate]

Having lived on cattle properties for over 30 years I can certainly understand the attachment to a favoured beast and this one is certainly very handsome. All the best at sale, hope the market shows this guy the respect he deserves. Love the colours contrasting with the race. Had to look twice to spot this peeper.

[Dione Giorgio]

I didn't notice him, at first, Margaret. I hate to see them going to the slaughter house but then this is life.

[Ethel]

This photo haunts me - I even wonder if I ate him last week. My sisiter had a few sheep for her spinning hobby. They had Shakespearean names. The one they meant to eat were not given a name except "lamb Chop". Lamb Chop stuck around until first shearing and the fleece was so gorgeous there was a reprieve and he joined the spinning flock!

[Margaret Pengelly]

@ethelperry You are safe. He classed as a "Jap Ox' and is off to Japan. My family had us do the same sheep were always named "lamb chop' and calves "camp pie"

[Gwyn]

Great photo. The colors, the textures, and the eye are so striking. Hope the sale went well.

[Margaret Pengelly]

@gwynkm Thank you Gwyn. Yes we were pleasantly surprised by the sale prices. Quality is still selling well and this chap is nowin a box on his way to Japan.