The livestock legacy lives on. Time tested and true, local auction markets and feedlots are still the most reliable, secure way for you to buy and sell livestock.

Cattle coming through. On Thursday mornings, the Calhoun Georgia Stockyard is open with a variety of live animals for show and sell. Behind the scenes in the holding pens, the sheep and goats are bleating. It’s like going to the circus, with cow dodging clowns and stadium seating.

We’re gaining ground! The stockyard was our second camp field trip of the summer as we proceeded to check out other options for selling our goats.

Before the cattle rattle started, the auctioneer opened the bidding with public prayer. Then the goats were driven through the chute one by one, followed by the sheep. This is starting to sound like a parable or maybe the greatest paradox ever!

Nobody likes to see livestock loose. Since we use a portable, solar powered fence, UCLife has plenty of practice moving the herd of goats every three days or so, in the hope that it will increase soil quality and manage grass supplies in winter months. Plus, plus, herding animals is like communion with God, just ask Moses, before he was used as God’s instrument to deliver Israel, or Jacob, who was constantly watching the sheep in the day the drought consumed him.

Going back to basics. We deploy two guardian dogs to protect our livestock and scare off predators. Lincoln barks all night and sleeps most of the day, and Bird just likes to play. But, goats and dogs don’t have no Shepherd, and that’s ba-aa-aa- d.

Urban Community Life