Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Cow House Ranch
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The next day, Lee Jun headed to the ranch with the Go family.
As he arrived at the ranch and disinfected his shoes at the entrance, Lee Jun's eyes caught the signboard.
[Cow House Ranch]
He hadn't noticed the ranch's name the day before—it was written in big letters.
Lee Jun muttered the name to himself.
"Cow House Ranch? Means a house for cows, right?"
"You got it."
Go Gi-jin answered from the side, having overheard Lee Jun.
Lee Jun looked up at the ranch, carrying Go Gi-jin on his back.
Cows dotted the lush green pasture.
"A house for cows—nice name. Feels right homey."
"Ain't it? Our pa named it hopin' the cows'd live comfy here as long as they're with us."
"Your dad came up with it? Real nice."
"Ahem."
Go Pan-seok the veterinarian, walking a bit ahead of Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin, cleared his throat.
"Pa lent this land to the ranch owner here and told him to try pasture-raised ecological ranching."
"Wow, that's impressive."
"Warn't nothin' on my part. Ranch owner's just diligent like that."
Go Pan-seok spoke modestly as he walked, but someone came running from afar.
"Well now, y'all're here already? Skip breakfast, did ya?"
The ranch owner greeted them warmly.
"You bet we ate. Think I'd come hungry?"
"Course we'd feed ya. What's addin' three spoons to the pot? You're the miracle doc who saves our cows."
"Aw, miracle doc? Nothin' of the sort."
Go Pan-seok's mouth curved into a smile, even if his words said otherwise—he clearly liked the praise.
"From that grin, looks like that calf's doin' fine from yesterday."
"Sure is. That little rascal's been runnin' around since dawn—took forever to catch 'im and get 'im dressed."
It was barely 6 a.m., early even for morning, yet work had already started.
Lee Jun thought, 'Ranches sure start the day early.'
"Makes sense—time to prep for winter. How's the barn insulation? All good?"
"Checkin' it now. Got sawdust down on the floors too."
"Good. Gotta get ahead of it. Rain drops temps in this weather, and diarrhea spreads like wildfire."
"Would be a disaster. Already worried with all these calves."
"That's why I'm sayin'."
Lee Jun, following behind and listening, asked Go Gi-jin.
"BWD?"
"You got it."
But Go Pan-seok, walking ahead, turned back.
"What's this BWD? New disease? You gotta tell me quick if there is one."
"Naw. It's bovine winter dysentery."
Bovine winter dysentery—cow winter diarrhea—hit mainly in the cold.
Highly contagious, severe cases brought belly pain, intestinal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, even sloughing gut lining.
Lee Jun recalled the symptoms from class, as Go Gi-jin continued.
"Cows get it, milkers drop 20 to 80 percent production."
"Whoa."
"But not here—never more'n 20, 30 percent? And they bounce back quick."
"Heh heh, all thanks to our director here."
"What you talkin' 'bout my doin'? You're the hardworking one. Clean's always best!"
Lee Jun nodded at Go Pan-seok's words.
'Dirty barns mean infection risk.'
Causes varied.
Bacteria, viruses—mostly coronavirus or campylobacter.
And cold.
Cold played a big role in herd diarrhea.
Then, far off, lifeforms came trotting—padding vests on, adorable as could be.
"Too cute."
Go Gi-jin picked up as Lee Jun grinned.
"Cute? They're a godsend."
"True, once they grow up..."
"Naw, I mean the clothes—winter gear."
"Vests? Thought you meant calves callin' 'em dutiful sons."
"Calves go without sayin'. It's the vests. Keep 'em from diarrhea. You know how scary it is for calves, brother."
"Yeah. Saw a report from the Rural Development Administration—68.7 percent of Hanwoo calf deaths from digestive issues."
"Prob'ly. Anyway, big mornin'-evenin' temp swings like now, we do everything to keep calves from it."
"But nights get cold—do they sleep outside? In the barn, right?"
Full-grown cows handled -20°C fine, but calves in vests—still cold?
Lee Jun wondered, but got no answer.
The vest-wearer charging over was yesterday's surgery calf.
It beelined for Lee Jun, licking his hands slurp slurp.
"Hah, this fella. Knows who saved his hide, huh?"
"Smart critters, ain't they?"
The Go men chuckled at the calf sucking on Lee Jun's hands like candy.
"Heh heh, our cows are sharp."
The ranch owner beamed too.
Moo-heh!
Calf mooed while licking—ranch owner laughed louder.
"Look at that? Like it that much?"
*It's great!* Lee Jun petted the licking calf with his free hand, thinking.
Slurp slurp.
Hands slimed, but Lee Jun said nothing.
Knew it was pure thanks.
"Taesan's got a vest too? Thought it was a calf comin'."
Woof woof!
Taesan barked joy at seeing them, circling Go Gi-jin and Lee Jun.
"Yeah, makes me happy too."
Go Gi-jin petted Taesan, answering the bark spot-on.
"Alright, let's make the rounds today."
"Got it."
Go Gi-jin told Lee Jun.
"We're checkin' the cows' conditions while we're here. If you're tired, brother, rest up here."
"Tired? Lovin' it. Let's go."
Lee Jun breathed deep the crisp, chilly dawn air, following the Go pair.
"Didn't notice yesterday, but fences? Keepin' 'em zoned? So they don't bunch up?"
"Kinda. Givin's grass time to grow."
Lee Jun eyed the pasture.
"Ah, eat one area's grass bare, move to next?"
"Su-neunim knows all."
Go Pan-seok chimed in.
"N-no, just guessin' from the pastures."
Lee Jun stammered, flustered at even Go Pan-seok calling him Su-neunim.
"Pasture ecological ranch—that's the goal. Grass-fed certified."
Go Gi-jin explained to Lee Jun.
"Grazin' April to November now. Buildin' to year-round."
"Grass key for that?"
"Yup. Self-sufficin' as much as we can. That's alfalfa."
Go Gi-jin pointed nearby grass.
"King of forages. Perennial, less tillin'."
"Key for carbon neutral."
Absorb as much CO2 as emitted—net zero.
Lee Jun's eyes widened at the ranch talk.
"Carbon neutral?"
Go Pan-seok nodded, elaborating.
"Yup. Import alfalfa? Ships or planes burn fuel. Inland, trucks haulin' containers."
"Ah, got it."
"Plus, our pastures—3,000 pyeong absorb 0.5 ton CO2 a year each. We got 20,000 pyeong—how much? 3.3 tons? Anyway."
"Amazing."
New topic, but Lee Jun nodded big.
"Self-feedin' alone puts you ahead on environment?"
"Right. And cows on pastures look good—better'n barned up. Ain't it?"
"Felt fresh comin' yesterday. Animals loved it."
"Yep. Why I can't leave for anywhere else."
"Pa's famous for hometown braggin'."
"Hey now, how good is this place?"
"It's great. Clean air, clean cows. Speakin' of, all cows this clean now? No manure smell here."
That was why the air felt pure.
Old farms reeked—manure, rotting feed stinging the nose.
Cow House Ranch? Spotless.
No stopping cats on cow backs yesterday? Made sense.
"Thanks to our director."
Ranch owner's out-of-left-field comment.
Go Gi-jin had mentioned at entrance: Go Pan-seok lent land for eco-ranch.
"Course—he's our benefactor."
"Naw. You love your cows. Barn was clean from tiny shed days."
"Tiny? We had 50 head then."
"Seen all barns around. Drove so much—new car lasted two years tops."
Insane mileage.
"Most barns stank of manure. Not here. Troughs clean. Cows shiny clean."
"Only thing I can do for 'em. Who likes dirty barns? Not me."
"Exactly. Thinkin' that way's one thing—who cleans like you every day?"
"Spread fresh straw, they wag tails happy—how not to? Fresh water in clean troughs, they slurp it down delighted."
Ranch owner's face full of love. Lee Jun thought,
'No wonder the cows love the boss.'
Yesterday and today, cows told him plenty.
Grass tasty. Clean good. Pastures great. Boss brag.
"So one day I asked—daily baths for cows? Kidding, course."
But he kept 'em that clean.
"That's why I pushed you to do it proper."
"Always grateful."
"Good on ya!"
Go Pan-seok ended with that, starting cow checkups.
'Folks who care this much for livestock.'
Lee Jun felt the hearts behind Go Pan-seok and ranch owner's naming.
'Can't just stand by.'
Wanted to help his way.
Approached cows, asking troubles.
Then.
Cow with mouthful of grass thudded to Lee Jun.
Thud!
Dropped the grass pile, bellowed loud.
Moooo!
"You're his mom, huh."
Lee Jun petted the knowing cow.
She mooed happy—moo!—licked his face slobbery.
Go Pan-seok smiled warmly.
"Such gentle beasts."
"Yeah."
Lee Jun grinned, eyeing nearby romping calves.
Taesan and five calves dashed—tag, looked like.
"Jumpin' good."
Calves puppy-playin', Lee Jun smiled at cows.
"Like puppies?"
Ranch owner asked Lee Jun.
"Yeah, just thought that—smilin'. Adorable."
"Ain't they? Disobedient like pups too."
Sigh from ranch owner.
"Don't listen?"
"Good hearts, but stubborn ones, playful ones—y'know."
"Just like dogs."
"Yup. Some won't wear clothes yet. Some balk at barn nights..."
Ranch owner trailed off, dashed off.
"Dang, that ain't food."
Go Gi-jin yelled, running.
"Hey kid, told ya—not edible!"
Thud thud thud.
They chased—calf bolted.
"Beany, that's no grass!"
"Leave it to me."
Lee Jun called.
Eyed the pony-galloping calf, sly smile.
'Way to handle that little terror.'