The Colonel was driving through the pastures and when he got close to the Sweet Gum Grove he saw Thorp, the Bull of the Middle Herd standing at the edge of the Grove. Thorp was shaking his head from side to side and up and down. On a second look, The Colonel saw not only a cow with a brand new calf inside the Grove but also a whole flock of Buzzards. They were sitting in the trees; in the area of the new calf. We have lost calves to Buzzards before, as they will wear a mother out trying to defend her baby. Some will make a move to come at the calf from the left and then when the mother runs to the left more will come in on the right. However, these Buzzards were just waiting and watching. Thorp, bless his heart, was doing what he could to help out.
The Colonel had his gun in the truck and he shot at them to scatter them. They were very determined, however, and some of them didn’t fly off. That’s the signal to shoot for real. So, he did. Buzzards have no loyalty to family or friends. Their meal for that day was Buzzard.
Thorp, is an outstanding bull. He is the one who visited his sick father everyday and would lie as close to him as he could get with only the corral separating them. He would visit at least a half an hour every day until his father, First Knight died. Thorp’s brother, Stoneshire, is going to follow in the tradition of his family. Stoneshire will eat out of our hands just like his father First Knight did. When we give him cubes, he does not want to eat them if we throw them on the ground. He wants to be hand-fed! I may have mentioned before that the cows and bulls at the Red Oak Ranch are pampered!!
