Earlier this year, I put $6,500 into purchasing a registered Black Angus bull for my small cattle operation. It was a significant investment for me, one I justified by imagining how he would strengthen my herd over the long run. When he first arrived, I watched him with a mixture of pride and anticipation, expecting him to settle in quickly and get to work.
But within just a few weeks, it became clear that reality wasn’t matching my expectations. Instead of showing the drive and vigor I had hoped for, the bull seemed perfectly content to spend his days grazing lazily in the pasture. While the rest of the herd moved in their steady rhythm—feeding, resting, and interacting—he simply drifted from patch to patch of grass, quiet and unhurried. He had a calmness to him that I admired, but after days of observing the same behavior, a knot of doubt began to form in my stomach. Had I made a $6,500 mistake?
His temperament was gentle—a quality that’s usually a blessing when it comes to handling cattle—but he didn’t seem inclined toward the role I’d brought him in to fill. After wrestling with the uncertainty for a while, I decided it was time to get a professional opinion. I called the local veterinarian, explained my concerns, and asked him to come out for an evaluation.
The vet arrived a couple of days later, carrying his usual kit and an easy confidence that put me at ease. He ran a full examination—checking the bull’s weight, muscle tone, vitals, and general responsiveness. When he finished, he looked at me with a reassuring smile and told me there was nothing physically wrong at all. The bull was strong, alert, and well-developed—just young enough that he might be a bit slower to mature than I expected. Sometimes, he explained, it takes a little extra time for certain bulls to “wake up” to their full potential.
Before leaving, he handed me a small supply of supplements and instructed me to give them once a day. They were a mix of vitamins and minerals designed to support energy levels and development. “It should give him a bit of a push,” he said, patting the bull’s shoulder before heading back to his truck.
To my surprise, that “push” came almost overnight. Within two days of starting the supplements, I noticed a dramatic shift. The bull grew more active, moving with purpose rather than drifting aimlessly. He began interacting confidently with the herd, stepping into the role he’d been purchased for as if he’d simply needed a spark to get going. Watching him finally come into his own brought a wave of relief I hadn’t realized I’d been holding back. My investment suddenly felt justified—more than justified, even.
But the biggest surprise was still ahead.
A few mornings later, feeling a bit too energized, the bull decided to broaden his horizons. He located a weak section in the old fence line, pushed right through it, and wandered onto my neighbor’s property, mingling happily with their cattle like he was greeting long-lost friends. When I got the call, I rushed over expecting frustration or anger. Instead, my neighbor met me with a grin and a good-natured chuckle. Together we rounded up the bull and fixed the fence, swapping stories while we worked.
As we tightened the last wire, I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly the situation had turned around—from doubting the value of my purchase to watching the bull exceed every expectation I had for him. Farming rarely goes in a straight line, and this whole experience reminded me that patience, proper care, and a little faith can turn uncertainty into success.