Moos News 2009 - 2011
(Archived News: 2005 - 2008 Click Here)
This page is dedicated to keeping you informed of what's happening with the herd. So, here's what's happening (most recent to oldest)...
12/26/11 Finally, after a year shut down on my web site due to computer issues I'm happy to post a few pics and news highlights of 2011 which was an incredibly hot and drought stricken year for us here in Texas. Many ranchers sold off their entire herd due to the water shortage. We managed to hang on because of our already small herd size. Here are the highlights of 2011 for FCC:
FCC diversifies herd and begins new Simmental line with the birth of Trinity (above) on 6/24/11. This is Stormy's first calf! On November 10, 2011 a bull calf named "Leo the Great" was calved to Epiphany, her first calf (below). These pics were taken a couple of weeks later:
10/27/10 This week FCC was blessed to host a pastoral colleague from the Lutheran Church of Denmark. Pastor Susanne Monsted journeyed to the Lone Star State from Copenhagen, Denmark to catch up with her old pal (me) and take in some Texas culture. After a tailgate party and a Dallas Cowboys loss the night before, she and I set out to visit the herd and escape the city life...if but for a few hours. Here she is promoting FCC and working with Stormy:
09/14/10 Well, it's been a sad month for FCC. The wonderful little calf you see below, Samson, did not survive the premature birth and horrible Texas heat. Furthermore, his mamma Equity, didn't survive the loss of her calf, Samson. Yes, our matriarch cow Equity died two weeks ago. She was a blessing to FCC and will be surely missed. She left a good legacy of bulls, steers and one heifer (Stormy) as her contribution to this world and God truly blessed her with a wonderful existence. That's life (and death) in the cattle business!
08/01/10 Introducing Samson! Born 7/28/10 at 85 lbs.
03/04/10 Yes, it's been a while since posting. The herd is healthy and growing. Below are pics of today's tattooing of the calves, Epiphany, Deacon and Matthias:
12/25/09 Christmas Day, 2009. Merry Christmas! I visited the cows after Masses today. Equity is probably bred and we're waiting for Stormy to come into heat. Deacon and Matthias are growing well and Epiphany is, as well. See pics below. Clockwise: Deacon, Epiphany, Equity, Matthias and Stormy. On another note, Valentine has been sent to the slaughter house and at this very moment is being aged. He should be ready to pick up for the freezer this coming week. He will yield a little over 530 lbs of prime, grade A, beef.
11/03/09 I was blessed to witness the birth of a little bull calf today. Fortunately, I had my video camera with me and filmed the event. Click on the two sequences below to view the birth. Click the one on the left first (it's about 50 seconds) then the one on the right next (it's about four minutes long):
20091103151651.wmv CalvingII.wmv
10/20/09 It's been too long since I last updated the web site, not because nothing has been going on but because a lot has been going on. I've been very busy holding down the fort at Mary Immaculate while the moos grow old and fat...not unlike myself, now that I think about it. Here are some recent pics of the herd:
And, if you're ready for some beef...here's Valentine ready for the packing company:
08/18/09 Well, today I moooved Deacon from Poetry back to the Star 7 Ranch, his birth place. Here are some pictures of the day...Clockwise from left: Deacon, Matthias, Epiphany, Stormy and Equity:
07/07/09 Just came back from "working cattle." I brought along seminarian Ismael Martinez who for the first time in his life: fed a cow by hand, saw a calf nurse and assisted with castrating a couple of calves including Matthias. I decided to go ahead and castrate Matthias via rubber band method. I'll fatten him up and sell him at market or by private treaty if anyone local (Dallas/Ft. Worth) wants to purchase him processed. Check with me on the details if interested. Here are a few photos from the day:
06/30/09 PM: Went out to the Star 7 Ranch to check on the moos and shot these photos. All the moos are doing well. Notice how big Valentine has gotten now that he's been weaned. The picture of Deacon is from The Flying Paint Ranch :
05/16/09 PM: How fun! Hoedown 2009 is over but the memories remain. Regardless of the weather, we all came together and had a good day just being with one another. I don't have a single picture to post because I was too busy having fun. Sorry.
But, we have a name for Equity's new calf! The new bull calf, born on May 14th on the feast of St. Mathias, is named....Mathias. The winner of the "name the New Calf Contest" was Jake Radcliff, the first of several kids to enter the name. Jake, who also celebrated his birthday today, won a $50 Visa Gift Card. Honorable mention goes to: Thomas Gaubert, Javier Cepeda and Grace Butler, all of whom submitted the same name but did so after Jake. Congratulations and thanks for coming out today!
05/16/09: The Hoedown is still on! Don't let a little rain dampen the day. It will be muddy, so don't wear your city white sneakers. The temperature will be great for the activities we have planned so come on out and let's have some country fun!
05/14/09: NEWS FLASH: Equity had a healthy baby boy last night around midnight. Mama and bull calf are doing well. Right now I'm calling him NC for "New Calf." At the MIS Hoedown this weekend we will have a "Name the Calf" contest for the youngsters to play. The kid to submit the selected name will win a $50 Visa Gift Card. Here are a couple of pics:
Click Here to be connected to the link for the video of NC
05/05/09 I just returned from the East and have recent video of Deacon available:
Click Here to be connected to the link for the video of Deacon.
Equity is coming right along and I think she'll calve before her May 30th due date.
04/28/09 Deacon was moooved from Terrell to Poetry, Texas, where he will be bottle fed through the summer at The Flying Paint Ranch. After having lunch with Brandi and Andrew (below), the move went smoothly as he traveled in the back of the Explorer with Tina Chapman insuring his safe journey. Meanwhile, Equity is preparing for her Spring calf. Below are pictures from the day:
04/26/09 Well, we have good news and we have bad news...such is the cattle business. It's life and death. The good news is that a new bull calf, "Deacon," was born April 25, 2009 weighing approx. 90 lbs. The bad news is that his mamma, our beloved Krissy, prolapsed and even after extensive medical intervention, did not survive the night. Below are pictures of Deacon's first day in this world and Krissy's last day:
Deacon received his name because earlier in the day the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Dallas ordained two fine men to the transitional Diaconate. Their names are John and Marco. I thought about naming this calf "John Marco" but it didn't really fit. So, "Deacon" is what they share in title right now, so I thought this name works.
04/18/09 Two noteworthy events at FCC: First, Krissy is due to calve on Tuesday, April 21, so keep an eye on the website for further developments. Second, FCC just purchased a new heifer calf from the Rockin' W Online sale. Her name is Rose (short for Rosary?) and you can view her video by clicking below:
http://www.cattleinmotion.com/videos-rockin-w-ranch-094018
She is in the first video in the series. Lot number 1 is indicated in the left hand corner. Rose will remain at Rockin' W where she will be worked with, shown, bred and delivered to FCC for calving.
03/17/09 No breaking news here but just an update on the herd: Epiphany continues to grow, mostly off of creep feed. Her mama Lady just hasn't been much of a milker. Krissy is scheduled for an April calf (April 21 due date) and Equity is scheduled for a May calf. Valentine continues to fatten up and Stormy is holding her own. Finally, today the Gabehart's visited the herd and hand fed a couple of the moos. Pictures are below:
02/16/09 It's official: Valentine sold at the MIS Heart of Gold Dinner and Auction for a whopping $4,000! Congratulations and thank you to Celeste and family for your generous support!
02/11/09 Valentine is already being pushed in the pen for big growth. With the big day (Valentine's Day) coming up in three days, he's ready to be someone's Valentine. Click here for historical and recent pictures.
02/03/09 As we draw closer to the MIS Heart of Gold Dinner and Live Auction (see 1/20/09 below), Valentine has been moved into a pen for growth development. This little guy is being pushed now for a maximum yield of beef in the future. Below are pics of the herd taken today. Click on the "V" for continued coverage of Valentine's development:
01/20/09 Exciting news to report! Forge Cattle Company, in cooperation with Square D Simmentals in Terrell, Texas, is donating a "Fatted Calf" to the Mary Immaculate School 50 Year Anniversary Heart of Gold Dinner and Live Auction to be held at the Westin Park Central on Valentine's Day, 2009. Click on this: "Heart of Gold" link to the auction for more information about this spectacular event. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
Below is a picture of the Registered Simmental bull calf named, appropriately, "Valentine." This calf will be "steered," fattened up, slaughtered and processed for the freezer and consumption in June or July of this year. Then he'll be hand delivered (in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) to the home of the highest bidder at the auction. For you vegetarians, you can bid to prolong the life of this calf by another year, or you can have him delivered live to a pasture of your choice. You will, however, be fully responsible for his full care after delivery. Ironically, cattle are vegetarians, too!
Notice the white "Valentine" heart on his forehead! Will Valentine be yours?
Also, for recent pictures of Epiphany, Click Here.