“Bud” was a good-luck charm for ISU students in the College of Veterinary Medicine for the past 17 years. Unfortunately for them, the brown Swiss steer has moved on to greener pastures.

Bud died Sunday morning of what is rumored to be respiratory failure. He was 19 years old.

As it was custom for vet-med students to rub Bud’s nose for good luck, many of them will miss the bovine.

Frank Cerfogli, third-year veterinary student, said Bud was to veterinary students what the Zodiac in the Memorial Union is to ISU undergraduates.

“The only difference with Bud is that we rub his head to rub off his good luck,” he said.

“It was tradition to go and pet Bud and talk to him before tests,” agreed Jennifer Greiner, first-year veterinary student.

Bud, who was an 1,800 pound steer, came to Iowa State in 1980 when he was purchased by James Roth, distinguished professor in veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, for an immunology experiment.

Because of one of the hormones injected in him from the experiment, Bud could not be sold.

“I donated Bud to the College of Veterinary Medicine to be used for student research,” Roth said.

ISU veterinarians used Bud for rumen research. The rumen is the largest section of a cow’s four-part stomach. The veterinarians placed a lid called a fistula in Bud’s left flank to provide an opening to his stomach.

“The veterinarians took the microorganisms in his stomach and gave them to other cows whose rumens aren’t working right,” Roth said. “They called the rumen fluid ‘Bud juice.'”

Roth said all of the veterinary medicine students knew the bull, and he was always happy to see people.

“He used to stand with his head in the hall, and people would pet him as the walked by,” Roth said.

It was hard to miss Bud’s head hanging over the stall door in the animal hospital, though.

“Bud’s head was as tall as the average Iowa State student’s torso,” Cerfogli said. “It was at least 2.5 feet long.”

Greiner said for vet students, Bud’s death was unexpected. She said he hadn’t looked very good during the days before his death, but students never expected him to pass on.

“Bud will be missed by all the students and faculty here at the Vet College,” Greiner said. “He was a real morale booster for the faculty and students who knew him.”