On Tuesday next week, all the cows will be sold. The (probably) last group of little calves were taken away last Tuesday. This morning our older calves, including the ones we trained, went to another farm.
We’ve been on this farm for seven months, which is the longest time we’ve spent in one place in eight years, and the longest time we’ve spent in one place in Australia ever. And for the first time in all our travels, I am not actually eager to leave. I’ve tamed three cows while we were here. They were all wild when we arrived but I eventually could pat these three, and feed them grass from my hand. But one by one, they’re being sold and I’m saying goodbye. I only have one left now, “Coconut Twist,” a tall mostly white cow with sawn off horns. And within a week, I’ll be losing her too.
And then there’s the twenty calves we raised from wobbly newborns to now, shiny fatties nearly chest high. They trust people so much. We still regularly haltered our four special ones and walk them around the property to eat green grass. This morning they all went to a different farm. Seeing my pretty, fluffy Alianovna leave after raising her for six months was so, so sad.
Probably the biggest thing I’ve learned here, is that cows are not stupid. Society is ignorant. Calling someone a cow infers that they are fat, stupid, ugly. But the truth is cows are none of those things. Fat, maybe, at least the pregnant ones are, but they are definitely not ugly, or stupid. Of course, as with any species there will be exceptions, but cows in general are beautiful, intelligent animals. They have friends within the herd. They get upset when they’re alone. They can learn tricks, commands, behaviours. They have spots they love to be scratched in – under the jaw, on the neck, Alianovna even enjoyed her front legs being brushed. They have their own likes and dislikes, attitudes, reactions. And I love them.
If I could have brought Alianovna, I would. But she was not for sale, and if she was, she’d cost nearly $1000 right now, and as long as she remains healthy, the cost will continue to rise the bigger she gets, until she hits the tipping point to older cow and then it drops again. And hay also costs so much and is hard to get your hands on because everyone needs it.
The good news though is that we have another job lined up already, on a dairy farm only about 20 minutes from where we are now. We’ll start moving our stuff out there soon, at which time I’ll get better photos that aren’t taken through a smudgy window.
Meanwhile, on April 6, Skuggi had his first puppy school class. And it was a disaster. Skuggi completely shut down for the whole hour, refused treats, hid his face and peed all over the floor when another puppy approached him. He didn't want people contact either, only to be held by me and pretend he did not exist.
I could not be more proud of my boy.
Puppy School With Skuggi (link to video)
