Good-Bye Elsie
On October 18th 1991, Ahren Lea Imperial Elsie was born in Canada. She made her way to NY as a bred heifer and was purchased by my father and later given to me. Elsie was the matriarch of the Ter-Veiw herd, my pride and joy, and the finest cow I have ever had the oportunity to work with. She was a daughter of the great Meadow Lawn J Imperial, who sired many excellent cows. She was bred to Juno when we bought her and the heifer calf she had was exported to Equador as a open heifer. She has many daughters and grandaughters at home and abroad. I have not figured out the lifetime totals yet, but I know she made over 200,000 pounds of milk for us. At her passing, her udder was still above her hocks and she still climbed the mountain every day to graze. This year she was raised to EX91 and really looked good for a cow almost 14 years old. She was everyones favorite cow and our repeat visitors always had to look her up. She was a over a week over due on Sunday and had milkfever in the morning. We gave her a bottle of Ca and she was up and grazing all day. At about 2pm my mother noticed all the cows were gathered around her and figured she finally calved. I had her bred to the son of an EX97 cow who happens to be the highest scored Jersey bull in Canada. It was raining and cold, Noah and I put on our boots and ran as fast as we could across the pasture. We pushed the other cows away, hoping to see a fine little baby calf in the grass. Instead we found Elsie…. dead, and no calf. For over a decade part of morning chores has been to say “good morning” to Elsie and scratch her behind the ears. Morning chores are not the same, they are forever changed. Elsie served our family faithfully, helped put milk in the tank and food on the table. She didn’t owe us a dime. She was the foundation of my breeding program and had the most beatifull eyes you ever saw. In a day when the average cow lives to the ripe old age of three, Elsie stands tall above the norm. Thanks for all the years and all the memories, old girl. You were the finest cow I’ve known…..I’ll never forget you.
May 22nd, 2006 at 6:35 pm
((Scott and family)),
So sorry to hear of Elsie passing. God blessed you, indeed, with a wonderful cow and many wonderful memories to keep of her.
May 22nd, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Oh, how sad, Scott. My condolences to you and your family. I’m glad you have many memories of Elsie to cherish. May the Lord comfort the ache in your hearts.
May 23rd, 2006 at 7:54 am
There are tears in my coffee:(
May 23rd, 2006 at 10:18 am
Scott,
Sorry to hear about Elsie (and her calf). She was a one and only, but I don’t need to tell you that. Do you have any of her daughters milking now?
May 23rd, 2006 at 11:33 am
I am sorry you lost your best cow; she served you faithfully. I appreciate your heartfelt candidness in expressing your feelings; the relationships we have with our animals are ordained of God and ,thus, are not mechanical or emotionless, but rich and full to the glory of God. We recently lost our beloved dog Patches and the tears flowed pretty good for a few days, which only evidences the incredible blessing she was in her God-ordained service to us the eleven years we had her. May God bless with many more cows like Elsie.
May 23rd, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Scott:
You sound so much like Brian as he talks about cows. I remember when we lost our first cow. It was tough. Brian bought her for me for Valentine’s day. May God Bless you with another cow as wonderful as Elsie.
May 25th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Oh Scott! I’m so sorry. I can remember sitting in the field with Princess Moo, cradling her head and crying when we found her dead - it is so hard! And hard for others to understand our love of these creatures that the Creator has entrusted to us….my God grant you peace on this journey!