I recently spent a hefty $6,500 on a registered Black Angus bull, expecting him to boost productivity on the farm. But after putting him out with the herd, all he did was graze lazily and ignore the cows completely. Day after day, there was no action. I started to think I’d bought an overpriced lawn ornament.

Worried I’d been ripped off, I called the vet to check him out. After a quick examination, the vet assured me the bull was healthy just a bit young and possibly lacking drive. As a precaution, he handed me a bottle of pills and said, “Give him one a day and let’s see what happens.” I didn’t expect much, but figured it was worth a shot.

Two days later, the change was unbelievable. The bull suddenly sprang into action servicing every cow in sight. Not just mine, either he smashed through the fence and made his way to the neighbor’s herd, too! He was like a four-legged machine, relentless and focused. It was as if something had flipped a switch.

I don’t know what kind of magic those pills had, but they smelled suspiciously like peppermint. All I know is that now I’ve got one very motivated bull, a bunch of very pregnant cows, and a neighbor who’s less than thrilled. Sometimes, all it takes is a little boost to awaken the beast!