About 35 years ago I had 9 acres out of town. Got a cow, then another cow, a couple of calves, etc. Wound up with 9 cows, calves and steers. Had one slaughtered, couldn't eat him. Wife and kids had no trouble, though.

My neighbor across the road, an old-time farmer, had 44 acres with lots of cows and a bull. Well, it so happened that my cow (Sam) and his bull found each other and started "courting" across the road, cow and bull "sweet nothings" being awfully loud.

I asked my neighbor and he said to bring the cow over. I tied a 40 foot rope around her neck, and off we went: me, the neighbor, my wife, kids and cow. By then the bull was over a hill and down a valley. We were standing on top of the hill when my cow noticed the bull and he her. After about 3 seconds hesitation the cow took off running. I ran for a few feet, fell, was dragged for a few feet, and let go. The "courtship" apparently had already taken place, because he "hit" her as hard as I could imagine. Her knees buckled, he "hit" her again and it was over.

To my relief Sam (the cow) came trotting over to me, dragging her rope. I picked it up, and we all started walking back. After about 50 yards my neighbor looked back and saw the bull trailing the cow.

"Let him hit her again", he said, "I don't care."

As if I was going to do anything if he did care. Or that the bull would change it's mind in the face of a harsh word or two. So, there was a single encore, and the show was really over.

The abstinence folks are messing with Mother Nature at it's most crucial point and I don't think they can do anything more than I could have with that bull.

Arf