Five Reasons To Have A Cow
☆ May 12, 2010
Please note! By “cow,” herein, I mean cow {female} OR steer {castrated male}. Or bull, I suppose. Or if you’re like me, all three! I just don’t want to type cow/steer/bull/bovine/calf/heifer at every turn. Slap my hand.
It is my determination that a cow is a cross between a horse and a dog. This concept flickered to mind with Daisy, became an undeniable theroy with Sir Baby, and has been confirmed with Frisco. Dog + Horse = Cow.
1. Cows are smart. Somewhere along the way, cows were given the label of dumb beast and it is so far from the truth. Cows have incredible intelligence, especially in noticing and understanding patterns. Show a cow something a handful of times, and it becomes memorized.
When I got Daisy, I would gather her up from the field at roughly the same time each evening and lead her to the corrals for the night. A week or so into our time together, I got distracted and didn’t notice it had suddenly gotten late. Daisy knew. Daisy knew the time and the routine and she walked in from the far reaches of the field and stood outside my door and MOOOed, an insistent, un-ignorable, “Are we going to the corrals now, or what??” kind of moo.
2. Cows smell good. Cows do not smell bad. Maybe if they’re trapped in a feedlot they do, but that is a problem created by people, not inherent to the cow. Just as horses have a distinct and wonderful “horse” smell, cows have a distinct and wonderful “cow” smell.
Cows smell warm and sweet, like homemade pastry.
3. Cows are obedient. Daisy, Frisco, and Sir Baby all know their names. They come when called. They obey voice commands akin to a dog.
Sir Baby, my bull, comes up to me and rests his forehead against my leg when he wants a nice scratch. This is our “thing,” this is what we do. Last week, I was kneeling on the ground giving Houdini a belly rub and Baby lumbered over and rested his head against my shoulder in request for a scratch. I ignored him because I was with Houdini, and so Baby started nudging me with his head. Like, “hey, I’m here, did you not notice?” But however gentle, a nudge from a bull still makes you rock! I said, “No, Baby.” And he stopped, took two steps back, and waited for his turn. I don’t think this is abnormal. I think cows are really awesome.
4. Cows let you cuddle. I’ve always been a bit jealous of cats ~ the way they get to curl up in a person’s lap and be totally encompassed by another’s warmth and strength. With a cow, you get to be the cat. Because the cow is 10 times bigger than you are! It is an indescribably wonderful thing, to curl up in Daisy’s neck, or stretch out on Sir Baby with a good book while he chews his cud.
Cow therapy is the best therapy. Cows are love. You simply cannot stay in a hateful, anxious, or wounded state when you’re with a cow. Lean against a cow or brush a steer and your veins will soon course with love.
5. Cows have a secret bonus. Because of their massive size and strength, and because they aren’t terribly common as pets, cows can look quite intimidating to strangers. How cool would it be to have a 1500-pound steer guarding your home against intruders?!? He’ll even fertilize your lawn at the same time!
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94 Responses to “Five Reasons To Have A Cow”
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May 12th, 2010 @ 7:28 pm
Does having a cow make one a vegetarian, as well? (I’m struggling with this particular life change and will get a cow if it will help do the trick.)
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
So Sweet! You are an inspiration to get to know cows better! My memories as a kid of them is, them chasing me across a field in Ireland! Thank you!
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:32 pm
I’ve always been fascinated by cows and never had the pleasure/privilege to live with one. They’ve always looked smart to me – coming and checking out what I’m doing when I’m out near their area. I love the idea of #4!!
Hmm, maybe that’s what’s “helter skelter” with my life – I need cows!
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:33 pm
Beautiful post! This explains to me why Venus the planet associated with love is the ruler of the sign Taurus aka the bull.
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:33 pm
Would having a cow mean I wouldn’t have to mow my lawn?
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:33 pm
Shreve, I continue to live vicariously through you. One of these days gonna have go full farmily in Alabama!
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:39 pm
love cow smell! loved resting my head against a warm goat hide while i milked my nubian dairy goats too….now thats zen!
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:40 pm
I am happy that you are finding that animals are, in and of themselves, wonderful, individual animals. Perhaps, more humans should come to believe that their own brain has evolved beyond the need to eat other animals.
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
#6? Cows give back – brush/scratch me, I’ll lick your leg..feed me, I’ll feed you back…love me, I’ll love you back (I’ve had to stay out of Molly cow’s vision while I’m trying to dry her up in preparation for a July baby as she will immediately let down her milk when she spots me)
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:43 pm
Suddenly I want a cow instead of my desk job. I figure I can’t have both – a cow will not fit in my cubicle and mooing might disrupt my co-workers. I really enjoy the cow pictures. I check every day hoping for cow photos. Daily Cow would suit me just fine.
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:43 pm
A cow. I have read such personal remarks about a cow only in books written by Temple Grandin.
Her bio has been on HBO recently. Cows are her favorite animal. She is autistic and “thinks in pictures, not words.”
She has redesigned more than half of the slaughter ranches in the USA (and the world) because she believes we should respect cows for what they are and what they give us…meat, milk leather…) and so we owe them as good a life aS POSSIBLE, and the final killing should be kind and stress free.
Her favorite pastime is going into a pasture and just spend time with the cows…
I think you would understand her more than most people.
Have you heard about Temple?
Jenny
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
Are bulls intimidating to be around? I mean, obviously they’re not once you’ve been around them for a while, but at first? ‘Cause our bulls down here are longhorns and going up to one never seems like a good idea.
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
I love your cow posts, they’re wonderful.
And I do have tons or questions, I SO want a cow!
How much does a cow cost? food? vet? As much as a dog? x5?
Can you have only one cow? does it get lonely?
Where does one buy a cow?
Oh, you’re so lucky to have such a nice and numerous animal family :)
Take good care of them :)
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
Just a quick thought, you should be very careful rolling a cow over you may cause their stomach to twist causing them death!
May 12th, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
happy happiest of blissful sighs. smiling to myself at this post.
there *must* be a cow in my future.
xxoo
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
genevieve ~ i really want to see that biopic. i’ve not read her books yet, they are on the list….
rachel ~ it depends on the animal, like with any species. but many bulls are chill. i’ve ridden a longhorn – he was HUGE and his horns were probably six feet tip to tip, but the sweetest animal… so mellow and generous.
roadcrack ~ thanks for the info – i will look into that! don’t want any death, that’s for sure.
rest o’ ya ~ thanks for the q’s and keep ’em comin’!
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:08 pm
Your posts always warm my heart and make me smile :) <3
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
There is definitely something therapeutic about the presence / touch of a friendly animal, in a way that being around other humans is not. Maybe while we are social creatures, dealing with fellow human beings can be stressful at times.
Being in the company of an animal that trusts us is a way of decompressing, so to speak? Or gives perspective on how we humans relate to each other?
We began domesticating animals tens of thousands of years ago, and there must have been an emotional part of that relationship from the get-go. That’s just how our minds work. We need people like Shreve to remind us how vital and necessary that connection still is.
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
Great post.
But about “Cows smell good”– they may, but their “patties” or “pies” or “chips” don’t– until they dry out, that is.
But no one’s perfect, right?
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
“Daily Cow”…I LOVE it!! But like some of your other posters have mentioned, it’s making it harder and harder for me to eat them. Already don’t eat much red meat, but now I’m thinking it needs to be ZERO. I support humane farming and am anti-feed lot…but still…
I’m flying off to an adventure tomorrow and am taking Temple Grandin’s book with me…hope it doesn’t make me cry…I cry at the drop of a hat when it comes to animals. Thank you Shreve for sharing your bovine farmily with us…
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
I completely agree with everything you wrote. When I was growing up, I bonded with a particular calf I called Whitey. She was an all white calf with just a cute little black spot in the middle of her forehead. To this very day, she still comes when I call her and always comes to me (not my Uncle, who actually owns her) when I enter the field. The other cows that he owns won’t even come near me but she comes running over to me and even lets me pet her calves. She has been this way for over 10 years now. :)
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:24 pm
Just a wonderful description. I do hope a cow comes into my life at some point. Creatures are so very wonderful.
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:33 pm
Gee THANKS Shreve.. cause now I wanna go find a cow to cuddle and spend time with!!! Love the post. You have such a cool life and I love reading about it! :)
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:35 pm
I want a cow too, but not a dairy cow. My guess is that I’ll be as allergic to cow as I am to a dog, and hopefully much less than I am to a horse! (Last time I reacted to a horse I was 4 feet away and didn’t even touch it!)
How would one go about acquiring a beef calf that has been weaned in order to turn him/her out onto grass pasture?
May 12th, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
When cows are judged at stock shows and fairs, one of the things the judges try to estimate is their intelligence. Intelligent cows do better and survive better, and so are chosen for the genes to reproduce.
Given how most of them are treated and what their eventual end is, I just detest that farmers are trying to make them more intelligent.
May 12th, 2010 @ 9:12 pm
You have such a sweet spirit Shreve, it touches me when I read posts about your animals. The deep love and respect you have for them is beautiful.
When I was young we used to spend school holidays on my Uncle’s farm, he made a living from dairy cows and show quality stallions. He had the most gentle bull named Elvis. Elvis knew “down” “home” “stay” and “fetch” he even used to round up some of the cows, and when Uncle Tom did the milking for his morning breakfast, Elvis would fetch the milk pail from the back of the house.
I think all animals are intelligent if we stop to actually get to know them! And their varying personalities are wonderful.
(Also, my anal retentive side rears it’s ugly head, *theory)
May 12th, 2010 @ 9:12 pm
I just explained to my cats that having me is like having a cow, and they should appreciate me… and that *I* wish I had a cow.
May 12th, 2010 @ 9:33 pm
I loved this post…i figured they would be like dog or horse or pig..if given human contact and love….I asked this before and you said you would answer in a future post…
Given the fact that you know cows now as you do.. would you, could you.. have a cow and raise it just for food for Charlie and you??
I really want to know how you would go about that…Thanks. Marlene from Cambria
May 12th, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Shreve –
I have been following your website(s) daily for years now, or at least within months of the original Daily Coyote’s inception. I can’t believe I have never posted until now.
Thanks for posting this. I was a vegetarian for 4 years and then – tasty-smelling lamb chop waved in front of my face – have been downhill since then.
But this beautiful post reminded me of why I originally became a vegetarian in the first place. They are amazing. And Beings. And we need to appreciate that.
Thanks so much.
May 12th, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
This is funny – probably only to me – because my boyfriend has been going on and on the past two days saying he wants to get some musk ox for the yard. They’re like cows, right? What makes it “funnier” is the fact that our yard is 40′ x 110′ and in the city of Milwaukee. Your arguments are compelling, and have softened me a bit to the musk ox idea, but it probably won’t work.
May 12th, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
Your posts bring back many very fond memories of a city kid’s summers on a ranch in NE Colo. Cows *do* smell good.And a heifer or steer, bottle raised, was always a fun surprise when you’d get a big nudge from behind meaning “wanna play” or “You scratch me and I’ll lick you”.
Now what you need is a rescue burro from the BLM. Their intelligence, cleverness, sociability, sense of humor, have to be experienced to believe — *if* you’ve never been around a burro. They also smell good, love to play, and will snuggle. If you get one, let me know — I’ll send recipe for “donkey cookies”.
May 12th, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
I’d always hoped someone would invent a perfume called “Horse.” (“Cow” would have been good too.) My BFFs were always girls whose fathers owned horses.
I grew up in New York State lake plain dairy country and dated a lot of farmers’ sons. I realize now after reading about your Farmily that I should have spent more time looking for love in the pasture and less time looking for it in the hayloft.
May 13th, 2010 @ 1:58 am
This is fantastic! My landlord keeps a small herd of heifers in a paddock behind my flat. Lately I’ve been going to see them every day, but they’re very skittish and I’ve only been able to coax a few of them close enough to have a sniff at my hand. They’re curious, but I wonder if they’ll ever warm up to me enough to let me give them a scratch now and then… What do you think? Any tips?
May 13th, 2010 @ 2:59 am
Do your cows like water and being washed? Do you ever bath them?
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:24 am
Love!! :)
I’m pre-vet and had originally sort of just assumed that I would be a small animal vet, but you’ve opened my eyes to beauty and love of these large animals… and now I’m completely torn (in a good way!). I may just have to do both and then find myself some land, some horses, some cows, a couple geese, a pack of dogs, a cat or two, and settle down :)
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:34 am
For those with questions about farm animals, or looking for a farm animal to adopt, take a peek at Farm Sanctuary’s website. They have a wealth of information about farm animals and the farming business. Usual disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with them in any way, I just respect what they do and how they do it.
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:39 am
Cows always end up standing on my feet. They seem to want to get really close to you, lean against you and in their endeavours they end up standing on your feet. Which can be a little painful. To me it seems they do this partly because they are curious and want to find out about you but also because they enjoy the company, you can feel the love they are trying to convey with each shove of the head or flank. I just wish they would be a bit more foot aware and let my poor feet recover.
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:58 am
First off, thank you again for sharing all this with us. It really makes my day (especially as I’m recovering from a nasty little procedure done yesterday). Couple of off-the-wall questions:
1. Do you have any allergies to your animals? Did you have any allergies at all when you first moved to Wyoming (seasonal, etc.)?
2. How close does Charlie ever get to the cows? Can he see them from his little corral? What about Chloe? Does Chloe ever help with herding?
3. Are there plans to add pigs to the farmily? Sheep? Llamas (they spit, I hear)?
4. I’d love a post/photos about your chickens at some point. I think you mentioned you have some and get fresh eggs. (okay, not so much a question, I know…)
Thanks again!
Cait
May 13th, 2010 @ 5:34 am
I had 5 horses growing up in Iowa. To this day, two of my favorite smells is horse and wet hay.
Cows, to me, are beautiful. Have you ever really looked at their eyes? Doeful. I do believe that the beef industry really really needs to take a close look at their practices. There are videos on youTube to educate some of you all as to the attrocities that are going on right now. I NEVER eat veal. Their short little lives are nothing but misery!!! WHY oh WHY do humans do these things to innocent animals. I won’t even mention what they do to ducks for frau grau!!
May 13th, 2010 @ 5:34 am
All animals respond to love by loving back. It truely is amazing. At the barn where I used to keep my horse, the owner kept the calfs that the mother’s rejected. They were a riot. There was one a bull that loved coke, the drink, don’t ask me how he had the first one, I don’t know. But if you were sitting around with an unattended soda, he would sneak up like some kind of cartoon character on tiptoes and steal it. The only “bad” thing he ever did was eat my real estate homework. I left the paper on my chair, while I went to groom my horse, I turned around and he was taking off with it. I chased him all over the pasture yelling “come back with that, I can hardly tell my teacher, I don’t have my homework because the little bull ate it.
May 13th, 2010 @ 6:27 am
I feel the same way about hens. People think they’re stupid when they’re actually quite bright. I wouldn’t say they are as sharp as cats, but they’re not stupid. My black rock Inara is so happy to be around me that she’ll settle on the mat in the kitchen, tuck her head under her wing and have a nap. I love talking with her, you can have a good converstation with a hen. All visitors gets interrogated and she loves to know what I’m doing. She follows me around the garden, gently clucking and just enjoying being with me. I love hens and can’t wait for summer when we’ll be getting some more!
May 13th, 2010 @ 7:05 am
My husband’s father owned a dairy farm in the 1940’s, and my husband told me that not only would the cows come in at the same time each day (on their own), then would go to THEIR stall. Each and every time, in an orderly fashion, with them lining up at the narrow gate to the barn. How cute!
May 13th, 2010 @ 8:22 am
When I was growing up in the Sierras of Northern California, I used to have a huge Hereford bull. As he would lie and chew his cud, he liked it when I ran my fingers through the ringlets on his forehead. He was the only bull I ever trusted.
Margaret
May 13th, 2010 @ 8:33 am
I have a few questions about keeping a cow:
1) Is it similar to having a horse? Cows need to be turned out in a large pasture area for at least part of a day?
2) How much hay do you feed a dairy cow like Daisy?
3) About how much milk does she produce a day?
4) Do you need to provide any additional vitamins or supplements to keep a dairy cow healthy?
May 13th, 2010 @ 8:40 am
I have always been fascinated with cows. I think they are adorable. I do feel guilty though because I still eat meat. How can I when those beautiful eyes are looking at me with so much love????? I am truly torn up over this. Thanks for such a great post.
May 13th, 2010 @ 8:52 am
I love cows.
I’ve haven’t had much up close and personal experience with cows but I love them anyway.
I’ve never milked one.
I’ve touched one. They have them at the Del Mar Fair.
But I really like them. They seem so serene.
When we go driving out in the county I take pictures of cows standing in pastures. My friends think I’m a bit odd.
I like ducks too.
May 13th, 2010 @ 9:53 am
COOL!!!! :)
May 13th, 2010 @ 9:57 am
There are several comments about meat/veg diets.
The word from Temple Grandin. She was vegan for a while, but did not feel well without meat.
To kill a cow for beef can be calm and stress free. An electronic stun gun to the head, and it is over. If the cow has been treated well and the slaughter route is one that does not frighten the cow…Temple’s audit includes the item that there can be no more than 2 moos/hour…whle in a circular path following other cows and no cows are hit pushed or hurt or even fall…its ok.
She says that if we did not want beef for food and milk and cheese, there would be no lifetime at all for cows…it costs a lot of money to feed and house and clean and yes slauther animals like cows, sheep and pigs.
She says a cows life “free” in the wild would mean hunger and fear and probably a kill by a predator animal (think wolf, coyote, cougar…) and she has seen this kind of slaughter with a cows belly/innards being eaten while the cow is still live…
A humane slaughter facilty is much better.
Alternatively, the small household ranch/farm is better, but the end must be considered here, too.
Meat is wholesome food for people, and as Temple says, Nature is not alway kind but Man can choose to be.
OK, I think. Jenny
May 13th, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Well Damn it. Now I want a cow.
May 13th, 2010 @ 11:40 am
yeah, what Kari said!!
thanks alot Shereve! im pretty sure i would get kicked out of my townhouse if i tried to have a cow in my back yard, but i bet my back door would never get crowbarred and all my stuff taken again! oh and #4 is what really got me! that sounds like an amazing thing to do!
May 13th, 2010 @ 11:44 am
Oh, I am so jealous. I know how Kari feels, I want a cow too. :)
May 13th, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
I spent some time in India a few years ago were Cows are considered sacred animals. It’s illegal to kill a cow, and people allow them free reign. It’s not uncommon to visit some sort of road side shop and find a cow plopped down in the middle of the floor. I’m sure people in India would agree with your sentiments here.
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
oooh i love birdcage’s ‘daily cow’ idea….though probably not feasible as i’m sure you have enough on your plate. i just love reading about your cows and all the photos of them and would definitely visit the ‘daily cow’ daily :-)
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
All this time, everyone has been telling me:
Don’t have a cow…
May 13th, 2010 @ 5:42 pm
First time ever, that I skipped reading even a single ONE comment, and went straight to my own . . . I know exactly what you are saying Shreve. Exactly. I think as we get older, and we realize that we have limited time to just soak up all this *stuff* here on earth, we hone in to what is important to us. I had a neighbor up the street (we live in rural/residential type neighborhood here in Northern CA, close to S.F) who brought a cow into the neighborhood. First one that I knew of in the 13 yrs here. Well, I went on my walks, and came up to Presley (he was so sweet) and we started chatting. See, I knew he was a smart boy, and I knew I was an animal lover, and we just started off on the right track. He came when I called him (from the street in his smallish pasture) I got great cow love from him. He loved all the scratching, and while I never got to lean up against him and read a book, I got GREAT satisfaction from being able to scratch him, take great inhales of his sweet scent, and wipe the long clear boogers from his nose. I mean, heaven? yes. I so love when you write about your animals, I know what you’re saying, and why. thank you!
May 13th, 2010 @ 6:13 pm
This makes me really, really want to go get a cow. Granted, I have nowhere to keep a cow, but it’s definitely got me thinking.
May 13th, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
as a child in germany i was taught by this tiny, older than dirt, lady how to braid.
my sole reason for wanting to learn this skill was so that i could help lead the calves to a separate stall so that they could get their checkups.
it’s been a while since i’ve thought of that, thank you so much for such a calming trip down memory lane. i needed that. :)
May 13th, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
Thanks for this post! I have been considering setting up my own farm animal sanctuary and whether or not to include cows, and this is definitely pushing me in the right direction!
I have a comment and a question:
First, to Genevieve, I just have to say I can’t see a slaughter facility as a humane option. Since cows have been domesticated from their wilder ancestors, we can’t say they even belong in the wild. They were bred to be docile and probably lost a lot of the traits that made them able to fend off predators. A lot of folks argue against vegetarianism by saying that we have to eat these animals or they won’t exist anymore, but the thing is they wouldn’t exist without human intervention in the first place….so I just don’t think that is a good argument in favor of slaughterhouses.
My question is, how much milk does a cow produce? Is it possible to decrease the milk production? I honestly don’t know what I would do with a ton of milk, since I couldn’t possibly consume that much. If you gradually stop milking a cow, will it stop producing milk?
Thanks again for the great post!
Christine
May 13th, 2010 @ 10:31 pm
Just so the ovine sector gets its due, there’s a new documentary film called “Sweetgrass” about life on a sheep ranch in Montana. I’ve been reading some great reviews for it, including this one:
http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_15072582
Some of you might enjoy it, I think.
May 14th, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Shreve:
I’m curious if Charlie interacts with the cows. When I lived on the ranch in Niobrara County, I had a Lab/Border Collie mix who just loved the yearlings in the pen next to the yard. They would all line up along the fence to get their faces cleaned by Wyatt. And he obliged. He would lick and lick, moving down the line to the next when he had finished one. He was a really gentle soul who loved everybody and everything, but I suspect it was the salty flavor of their snot and the leftover bits of feed on their faces that really attracted him. It was amazing to watch, Wyatt’s tail wagging and the cows pushing closer trying to get their turns. Do Charlie and Chloe get the chance to interact with your cows and are the cows accepting of them?
May 14th, 2010 @ 10:47 am
Thank you for sharing! This is SO beautiful!! I adore hearing about your “cows”. I also would LOVE to see chicken pictures and hear about them. I LOVE chickens!!!
Enjoy your family and please keep sharing!! You are so special……..
X O X O X
May 14th, 2010 @ 11:56 am
I can’t keep track of all the animals you have, but do you have any sheep or goats? I’d love to hear about those animals as well. I don’t think I’d ever be able to get enough property for a cow even though they seem so sweet.
May 14th, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
Am I the only one that thinks of the movie City Slickers when I think about a pet cow? Lol.
My ultimate life goal is to have a small farm, and work from home. I have always boarded my horse, but one day I’ll be able to look out my window and see him right there. :D I think cows are pretty cool. I never knew they were so sweet and intelligent. Thanks for posting this!
Now I kind of want cow, but…
1) How much acreage do they need? I know the general requirement for horses is 2 acres per horse. Yeah you can get away with less, but you won’t have any grass.
2) Can they live in the same pasture has a horse?
3) I have always heard that cows are notorious for destroying fences. Is that true?
If I do foray into cow ownership, it would have to be a steer. I’m lactose intolerant, so all the milk would go bad otherwise!
May 14th, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
When my nephew was 2 or so, I took him to a petting zoo. In a corral, they had an ENORMOUS black and white cow. My nephew was so excited, even though I was a bit intimidated by her sheer size, so I picked him up and we walked over to her. I stopped a couple of feet away, and my nephew leaned waaaaay out from my arms and yelled, “MOOOOOooooOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” My eyes widened, I’m sure, because I was afraid he’d startle or annoy her, but instead she slowly turned to look at him, blinked a couple of times, and moo-ed right back. And then my nephew moo-ed again. And then she replied. I still wonder what they were talking about…
May 14th, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
cows truly are kind and gentle. love them!
May 14th, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
and i love cow eyelashes… i love hearing about your farmily… such calmness and happiness!
May 15th, 2010 @ 6:51 am
Wonderful post. I’m fairly certain my dog has been pestering me for weeks to get a cow buddy.
May 16th, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
I agree 100%
I would love a cow, but my neighbors would frown on a huge lumbering bovine beauty.
So I am looking at mini cows!
They are roughly the same size as my dog,just a bit heavier.
And not a loud.(I have a coonhound EXTREMLY vocal breed)
May 16th, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
Reading over the comments I notice a few issues have been raised over the morality of killing animals for food.
My father runs one of the biggest meat suppliers in Australia and the household I grew up in was very open about the whole abbatoir process. I’m a massive carnivore (as would be expected) but I’m also a strong campaigner against animal cruelty. I believe as the advanced species we have a duty of care to treat these animals with respect while they are alive.
Things like GD have mentioned can happen when consumers turn a blind eye and would rather save money than pay more for ‘free range’ or ‘organic’. But if we educate ourselves and come together as a society by refusing to buy eggs that aren’t free range, meat that comes from barned animals instead of pastured livestock, then the pressure will increase on the suppliers to do the right thing by the animals.
An interesting show that asks some great morality vs reality questions is; ‘Kill it. Cook it. Eat it’, I definitely recommend watching it for a different perspective on the birth to butcher processes.
http://www.justhungry.com/kill-it-cook-it-eat-it
May 17th, 2010 @ 9:37 am
I’ve always been enamored by cows from afar. I love them. Thanks for articulating all of the reasons why cows are awesome!
May 17th, 2010 @ 12:53 pm
Jerry has decided that Ayla and I need a baby Brahma as a pet. OO
May 18th, 2010 @ 10:59 am
i just love ya! however, i will never show up at your house!
May 26th, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
YES! Cows are awesome – have a very special one who adopted me 14 years ago – Christina. I even wrote a book about her and me, that’s how much she means to me. And NO, I do NOT eat meat or fowl. I look into Christina’s eyes and see such love and wisdom there. She is the ultimate Zen Master, chewing her cud or gazing off into realms I cannot see. Wish I lived right next door to you – your respect and love for cows make this world a much better place. THANK YOU!!
May 26th, 2010 @ 7:41 pm
Love this, I think cows are brilliant, though truth be told I mostly admire cows from afar. City girls don’t often get to meet cows, but if I had the space, and someone close by with the knowledge, I’d LOVE a backyard cow
May 26th, 2010 @ 9:07 pm
[…] upon a time, there was a farm and there was a cow I was reading this post of Shreve (author of The Daily Coyote) days ago and it made me remember the days when we had the […]
May 31st, 2010 @ 10:09 am
Temple Grandin loves cows a lot, too. She says she “thinks like a cow and animals think” in Pictures” like a slide show…and not in words as most non- autistic people do.
HBO on cable and satellite dish/TV will be showing the Biopic of Temple again on June 1 at 6 PM est. Also several more showings after June 15. They are also offering advance orders for the DVD.
Wonderful movie of a very special person who is a friend to cows and animals.
It also presents the first time a severely autistic person has actually written a book to really explain Autism to the rest of us…also Aspbergers and other “not less but different” people. Jenny
June 3rd, 2010 @ 6:11 pm
[…] finally, for the cow lovers among us, Shreve Stockton at Honey Rock Dawn gives us Five Reasons To Have A Cow (and none of them have anything at all to do with […]
August 14th, 2010 @ 12:15 pm
I think it’s heartwarming that the herd take care of their young so well. A few cows will stay behind and watch the young so that the mother’s can go and graze, and they take turns.
December 29th, 2010 @ 7:02 pm
I would like ten.
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February 12th, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
I really want a cow. How much would it cost to own a cow per year? Is it less than a horse? Im around horses alot and they are like sooo needy so I think cows would be less expensive. AND you get free milk(if you have a lady cow,haha)
October 12th, 2014 @ 11:07 pm
I love your website and I am a huge pet lover. I am fascinated with cows and it melts my heart knowing there are cows out there that are being treated good and given love. I wish that all cows be treated this way and not harsh. It would be great if all people in this world come together and save our animals from being eaten and from being mistreated. I want a cow so bad who I can give love to and for the cow to know there are good human beings out there who will not hurt them. Its bad how all of these farmers are negleting and mistreating them. I say yes to Vegan for everyone so animals wont have to be killed and say no to milk also because it should only be used for the cows babies and not humans and the babiea shouls not be taken away from their mothers. I also say no to slaughtering our animals. If we all become vegan….we can save all animals and they can live a productive life they deserve.
July 31st, 2015 @ 11:45 am
What kind of cow is best for a pet
July 31st, 2015 @ 11:46 am
Im looking for the best breed.
August 23rd, 2016 @ 7:18 pm
I love cows but I live in a flat, thus pets are forbidden. I mean not even small animal like dog is allowed. Agree with you that cows have sweet nature and are VERY very intelligent. That’s also why their milk is good for brain. How I want to have a cow as pet and friend. Thanks for sharing.
April 13th, 2017 @ 2:40 am
The Rock Brahma Bull
[…] standing on your feet. Which can be a little painful. To me it seems they do thi […]
April 25th, 2017 @ 6:50 pm
A Large Cuddly Lamb
[…] find out about you but also because they enjoy the company, you can feel the lo […]
May 1st, 2017 @ 4:36 pm
Keep Your Longhorns Memories Close
[…] n feel the love they are trying to convey with each shove of the head or flank. […]
July 12th, 2017 @ 3:38 am
“2. Cows smell good.” Don’t they just smell like poop?
September 3rd, 2019 @ 8:28 pm
yum yum steak
September 3rd, 2019 @ 8:29 pm
add 11: good for steaks