Turned down Chik Filet...

[littlecowfl]

A friend knows the people that manage two franchises. I guess they have a big cow promotion later this month. They were asking if I could bring a cow and set her up in a pen for a few hours. They said they would provide shade. They also asked about painting some white spots on her, lol! In the middle of the day in the middle of July? Nope. Not unless we get a freakishly cool spell down here. Too stressful. I can't imagine loading a cow up in the late morning, hauling her an hour, unloading her in the hottest time of the day, putting her under stress (she is friendly, but any time away from home is stressful) and then asking her to load back up in a hot box while the temps are peaking. I do take our friendly cows for a Nativity in the winter, but no heat issues that time of year.

[otf]

I'd venture to say that you made the right decision. Way too hot for a cow to do that and, I agree, the stress factor is maximized by the heat. Ummmm, paint white spots on her? To make her look like a Holstein or what? Whenever you take an animal to a non-animal place, you have to watch them like a hawk. Some idiot will feed them something bad or do something very stupid.

We took a couple of donkeys to an event some years ago, very public, very crowded, very noisy. I was walking a yearling around to familiarize her with all the hoopla, and all of a sudden, someone touched me on the shoulder and pointed to his 10 year old son whom he had placed ON the donkey's back! Needless to say, I lost my temper with him. But I had been inattentive as well. There's always a risk exhibiting any livestock unless it's specifically a livestock event and even then.......

Gale

[littlecowfl]

Wow, that was bold of him to put his kid on the donkey. Glad it turned out okay.

The store owners were thinking right in that there would be a pen and shade for her, rather than walking her among strangers. If it were cooler weather, she would be fine. I always set up camp next any animals on display to watch interactions. I have their own treats on hand as well as hand sanitizer. Is it necessary? I don't know, but I think it's a good idea, especially at events where washing hands isn't easy. Also, it kind of makes people take turns and minimize contact (because they'll have to sanitize again). I also put my trailer behind the pen and arrange a tarp covering part of an adjoining side of the pen. This gives the cow a retreat zone, if she wants to lay down and chew cud in peace. The cows I have taken to events do very well with this. They socialize as they want and retreat for peace, when they need to. When I see them laying down to chew cud, I know they aren't too stressed. The middle of the day is lazy, lay down in the shade time. That's a tough time to be on display unless the weather is cool.

[otf]

Using the trailer as a retreat zone is a very good idea!

[littlecowfl]

Thanks! The zoos seem to use something similar.

[otf]

I found the photos from the fall festival a few years back. Put little pink bows on her horns!

[littlecowfl]

Aww!

[cddexter]

great pics, and FANTASTIC idea. Wish I'd thought of that. Sometimes you have to use the facilities provided, so it's not an option. Thanks for sharing. Almost makes me think of getting some girls again. Veggie farmer not too far away bought a bunch of Dexters from a breeder in the middle of BC to eat his brown coarse first cut hay, and has them here on the island. Some are sired by Warlord, so I'd be getting half my genetics back. I only have 1/4 acre of pasture, and the 30+ sheep use it as a lounging area--took about 15 hours to graze it down to nubs. c.

[littlecowfl]

Is there an option to lease pasture near you?

I think this is called enabling, hehehe!