The cows went out to pasture yesterday for the first time this year. When the old ones like Star, who at eleven is second oldest, Butternut, another senior citizen, and all the other veterans of many years at grass saw that the lower gate was open, they headed for the hills.
Literally.
It was not quite the same story with the two, three and a few of the four-year-old cows. They were much more intrigued by the fact that they could run for about a half a mile at a rip than by the new food source.
So run they did.
All day.
They ran up the hill. I looked out the window, not a black and white body to be seen. Five minutes later, with a thunder of hooves on packed earth, they were back, mooing at me, and staring as if asking what they were supposed to be doing.
Then they were gone again.
It was a noisy, busy day. Of course there was a bunch in the barnyard when the corn truck came so I had to hold gates with a big stick, since they thought all open gates were there for their entertainment.
An of course, when it came time to bring them in the barn for milking there was a conspicuous dearth of bovinity anywhere to be found.
The young ones were evidently still on the prowl though. As soon as they heard the grain auger they showed up at the door, wide-eyed and blowing.
However, the old ladies had to be escorted all the way down from the farthest hills. They knew a good thing when they tasted it. After a long day of vigorous grazing their backs were dotted with spent flowers from the box elders, wild plums and maples that are in bloom. They were quite contented and full of milk. I hope things are a little more peaceful today though.
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8 comments:
"...conspicuous dearth of bovinity..."
I just love that!! I enjoy your writing.
It sounds like you have very happy cows. We never had cows, but goats (for milk & cheese.) At one time, living in Scotland, a neighbor had a great big red cow, us kids would lie against her stomach and listen to the incredible gurgling within.
Do you milk by hand? (I'm a bit clueless any more about such things. Been many years since I had to do farm chores!)
They did the same thing today. Like crazy teenagers!
And thanks for the kind words.
We milk with six milking machines, which pull the milk into a pipeline, overhead, which goes out to a large cooler tank in the milk house.
Our kids have always liked to sleep on the cows at the fair when they are showing. The cows seem to like it too and put their heads over the kids to sort of "tuck them in."
I love the fact that your cows get to "run free." (I suspect that milk production was less than usual today due to the running but just think of what it will be in a few days when all settle with all the new grass to eat.)
Pasture is good for cows, no doubt about it. Wish they would calm down though.
What a nice scene to read about. There are no cows in my backyard to watch, just the squirrels who fight all day by the bird feeder. I hope you caught the special on WMHT (channel 11) on "Cattle". I loved it and my husband humored me by by watching it also. It's how cattle, beef and milk cattle, are groomed to be presented at the bigget and most prestigious event in New England: The Fryeburg Fair. It was so great, the Grand Champion Jersy being prepped loved all the attention she was getting. It's being repeated at 2:00, this Sunday, 5/7/06. Its all a family affair with the featured farmers with all their kids grooming their animals for the grand walk around the show ring. I'm going to tape it for future entertainment. Hope you see it. The show reminded my of all your picutes of your cows, and your kids' working around them.
I put this in once, don't think it went through, so here it is again. Sorry if shows up twice.
Hi there, Karen,
We did see that one and enjoyed it. Thanks
It's spring alright. Dang fool neighbor was mowing the grass all day! Yikes -- I haven't even put up the snow shovel yet...
The girls will calm down in a day or two only to get all fired up as the flies and mosquitoes hatch and drive them balmy.
Enjoy.
That TV show was on HBO last weekend, so you might be able to catch it there, too.
Hi Wil, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, the bugs are just beginning to bite already down here. I was thinking that was a different show that we did see, but now I see we will have to keep an eye out to get a chance to watch it. Our oldest may even know some of the kids involved as she has met a ton of farm kids from New England at college.
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