One of the things we look forward to each morning at the farm is the "Cow Parade" that takes place like clock work. The parade begins each morning around 7:30am and progresses past the house until about 8:30am.The cows belong to Benny Bough, the hardest working man in Cedar County. This is only one of the pastures he has cattle on and I am so tickled that it just happens to be in front of our farm house so we can sit on the porch having our morning coffee watching the girls walk by grazing as they go along.
Sometimes, the cows are particularly vocal and as they bellow it echoes through the hollow. We call them our "land whales" as the sounds are very similar to those made by Humpback whales as it echoes across the valley. They make all sorts of sounds - high pitches calls, low groans, and just plain old Moos.
There are probably 120 head of cattle mostly heifers and steers that pass by the house. You can hear them ripping the grass up as they munch their way to another pasture where they will stay for the day - grazing.
Occassionally, young calves will butt heads - this is a heifer and a steer about the same age with their backs bowed with the effort of seeing who is the stronger of the two. It made me giggle because I thought of the "battle of the sexes" that is eternal and isn't reserved for just us humans. It seemed like a stand off to me, I'm not sure who won. It was over as quickly as it started and then it was back to munching - the thing cows do all day.
Sometimes, the cows are particularly vocal and as they bellow it echoes through the hollow. We call them our "land whales" as the sounds are very similar to those made by Humpback whales as it echoes across the valley. They make all sorts of sounds - high pitches calls, low groans, and just plain old Moos.
There are probably 120 head of cattle mostly heifers and steers that pass by the house. You can hear them ripping the grass up as they munch their way to another pasture where they will stay for the day - grazing.
Occassionally, young calves will butt heads - this is a heifer and a steer about the same age with their backs bowed with the effort of seeing who is the stronger of the two. It made me giggle because I thought of the "battle of the sexes" that is eternal and isn't reserved for just us humans. It seemed like a stand off to me, I'm not sure who won. It was over as quickly as it started and then it was back to munching - the thing cows do all day.At the end of the day, around 4:00pm the cows head back the other way - a second cow parade as they head back to another pasture for the evening.
Occassionally, we see Benny and his son, Steve checking on the cattle and the fences. Sometimes they are on four wheelers and other times driving a truck. When I was younger Benny rode a cattle pony - he was the best rider I have ever seen. Riding at break neck speed when necessary and leaping his horse off banks seemingly one with the horse. It was always awe inspiring and you couldn't help but squeal in delight as he went down and over the bank landing at the bottom and charging back up the other side. Gone in a flash. Now that Benny is older he has traded in his horse for a four wheeler. He is a third generation cattleman and his cattle are well cared for seven days a week. He begins his day at daybreak and works until sundown every day. He's a modest and hardworking man that will pass his cattle business down to his son, Steve someday - the fourth generation of cattleman.
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