 |
| Okay. Call it what you want . . . |
Cows.
You see them in the fields. Standing. Eating. Wandering about. Staring contentedly at nothing.
They are in the barns. Being milked. Standing. Eating. Wandering about. Staring contentedly at nothing.
They care for little calves. Nursing. Licking. Bellowing. Giving the occasional kick. Ignoring.
You know them as ‘meat’, ‘milk’, ‘cheese’, ‘cream’.
We know them as aggravating, funny, stupid, perverse, blind, ornery and endlessly hungry.
And the reason we get out of bed in the morning.
We’ve called them cows, dogies, critters, some terms unprintable here.
And our bread and butter.
Our family raised Polled Herefords.
A breed known for its gentle disposition.
And beef production.
We also kept one ‘milk’ cow. Usually Holstein.
A breed known for their milk production.
Near the Stringam spread was a herd of Jersey cows.
Also known for their high dairy output.
And gentle disposition.
Dad pointed them out as we drove past. “See. Diane! Those are Jersey cows! They give milk!”
Four-year-old Diane, nose pressed against the car window, “Oooo!”
I will admit that, occasionally, things got turned around in my little girl mind . . .
The next time we drove past that particular field, I pointed excitedly to the quiet animals out grazing. “Ooo! Daddy! Look! It’s those juicy cows!”
I was right.
Jersey cows are so pretty, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice little ode to cows. Love it!
Thank you, Bonnie!
DeleteJuicy indeed..grlled...medium well.
ReplyDeleteMmmm . . . I'm with you, Sister!
DeleteI grew up next door to a small milk farm, so I actually knew more about cows than I did about the "milk, cream, meat" part ... eventually, though, it all became clear ...
ReplyDeleteJuicy cows - hah!
The positive results of a rural education!
DeletePersonally, I think 'juicy' is their real name. Jersey cows, indeed!
And all cows have the most beautiful eyes...
ReplyDeleteAnd Loooong eyelashes. What's with that?!
DeleteI've heard that as well as high production, Jersey cows also give the creamiest milk. I don't drink milk unless it's in coffee, so don't really care where it comes from, but do you know if that is that true about the creaminess?
ReplyDeleteIt is so true. Their milk is lovely and creamy. Much higher fat count than, say, a holstein.
DeleteNothing like a bit of juicy cow I always say!
ReplyDeleteAnd I would agree! :)
DeleteWell done. We used to raise polled Herefords too but now we have them crossed I love that Hereford breed they are so gentle.. B
ReplyDeleteThat was what Daddy liked about them. And me, too! :)
Delete