Squeaky Pete and the Three Pips

Our pen full of future herd sires was near full capacity this year. We started out with 12 yearling bulls in February. The bulls were split between the two sides of the bull pen area and when they came into the barn to eat, there was a lot of shuffling, shoving and general mayhem for everyone trying to get to the food at once. There was a constant game of one-upmanship at every turn.

Currently, the bull pen holds only 4 bulls, 2 on each side. Scuffles are merely a few bumps and scrambles, not the intensity of lacrosse or soccer matches with the larger numbers. But the sounds coming from the bull pen are much louder these days.

The adolescent yearlings are heartily stretching their voices. Squeaky Pete, aka #75 Mark, has been dubbed because he is leading the chorus. All times of the day or night, when he hears another critter, or if the herd across the river is in the field closer than usual, Squeaky Pete lets off with resounding bellows. He gives it all he got to try to sound tough, big and strong. What comes out is a cross between a drunk moose and a snoring elephant, not much more than a loud series of off-key notes punctuated with squeaks and squawks of an immature voice.

Before long, the 3 other yearlings are trying to keep up with the warbling of their temporary leader. The cacophony  usually gets the other animals keeping time to the wild music. The herd sire with the main herd chimes in with his deep bass. The calves in the show barn kick up their heels and scoot around the pasture looking for the reason for all the excitement and calling with the sweet tenor quality of a boys choir. The momma cows try to quell the babies and their exuberance with stern mom calls.

All 4 of the bull pen boys are now a year old and are ready to be sold to bull buyers. I’m already looking forward to a little peace and quiet.