A Tale of Two Cows

Dec
1

Every day, I go into the barn to toss over two bales of hay into the cows’ hay feeder that is located inside their outdoor access stall.

They go right at it.

That’s BP on the left. She looks horrible, as usual. She’s the picture of a cow who’s had a hard life. It’s hard to put weight on a cow that is of this age and this condition. Believe it or not, she looks better than she did when I got her, and this certainly isn’t her best angle. I’m still looking for her best angle. I’ll find it one day! She’s a good cow.

Glory Bee is on the right. Despite the fact that she receives the same treatment (currently) as BP, she looks about 10,000 times better. But then, I raised her from a calf, with her mother, and she’s never been put through the dairy industry.

Since the only adult cow I’ve ever had and milked is BP, I wonder all the time at Glory Bee. She’s such an awesome creature.

Her bee-hind is stable, by the way. No change! I’m rooting for a Christmas calf!





Comments

  1. Dumbcatluvr says:

    From the looks of Glory Bee, you might get two calves. :moo: :moo:

  2. yvonnem says:

    Gosh, GB is one big, beautiful girl! I can hardly believe how wide she is….maybe there are two calves in there!

    I’m glad BP has such a wonderful place to live out her retirement.

  3. bbkrehmeyer says:

    poor BP. are her teeth worn down? Dont believe I have ever seen a cow so thin on all 4 legs. It may be time for an intervention. Sorry.but its the cycle of life.

  4. lesliedgray says:

    How old is BP? Maybe her teeth need filing? Maybe some senior feed? maybe hay pellets? The hay is in smaller bits, so they break down and digest more efficiently. I know they have senior feed for horses,.. doubt they do for cows, but maybe the horse feed will give her a boost. GB certainly shows that she has led a pampered life…LOL!

  5. whaledancer says:

    I wonder if cows’ skin loses its elasticity when they get older, the people’s does? If so, that might make her bones show more and make her look worse than she is. It seems like comparing a 20-year-old young woman in the bloom of her first pregnacy with a post-menopausal woman who has had 12 children and a hard life. How wonderful that BP can enjoy her retirement and have the company of her daughter. And maybe soon a granddaughter!

  6. holstein woman says:

    That is the way of life for dairy cows in the dairy. My Mary is the only cow I have seen that is a Holstein that doesn’t look like a dairy cow. I admit I have had to work on getting her weight back up after the 3 (last) calf.
    I think the both look normal. I can hardly wait for them to calve. I hope you get your Christmas Wish.

  7. BuckeyeGirl says:

    Yeah, I remember that Suzanne had their teeth looked at for those of you who are asking about that, dairy cows just look like ‘bags-o-bones’ most of the time but especially when they get some age on them. We all know she’s as well fed as possible and that she’s living a life of cow luxury… which of course means as comfy as she’ll let you make her. Cows can be so contrary!

  8. bonita says:

    BP is a Jersey. Jerseys are small dairy cows with a pronounced hip structure needed to support their considerable udders. Jerseys, even in the prime of health, always look bony.
    On the other hand, GB is half Brown Swiss. Brown Swiss are large dairy cows and don’t have a protruding hip structure as Jerseys do. Brown Swiss always look like well-packed smooth-shaped cows.
    Never mind that the photo’s perspective accents BP’s Jersey features.

  9. Flowerpower says:

    I think BP has a beautiful face with gorgeous eyes. Its amazing how much better cared for animals look isn’t it? You can tell Glory Bee is nice and round! :happyflower:

  10. FujiQ says:

    Yeah, dairy animals need hip structure, bonita is spot on. Our toggenburg does are bony girls. https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/goats/198195-thin-bony-goats.html

  11. SarahGrace says:

    I was commenting to Michael this past week that Buttercup is bigger than her mama. Buttercup is half Brown Swiss too. They are just bigger and fuller than Jersey’s. I can’t wait until we see in person Glory Bee’s and Buttercup’s coming calves! I bet the calves will be darker than their mamas.

  12. Karo says:

    I agree with flowerpower that BP has a beautiful face. We can’t all be bikini models!

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