The sanctuary’s four rescued cattle have a pretty good life.
During the colder months, the bovines live in the winter paddock. Although it’s not as expansive as their full complex of pastures, this smaller area contains everything they need to stay happy and healthy. They have 24/7 access to fresh hay, heated water, and a couple of warm, straw-lined shelters. (Caregivers, on the other hand, have to muck these areas each day. That’s a story for another blog post.)
In the warmer seasons, they roam the grassy hillsides without much need for human interaction. You’ve probably seen a lot of this idyllic lifestyle on the blog. As with the chimps, we don’t always emphasize the barriers that contain these individuals, but we don’t want you to forget about them, either. The picturesque backdrops and dedicated caregivers cannot change that these four domestic cattle are living in captivity against their will. At times, it may even be necessary to confine them for their own safety. To offset the injustices of captivity, we are obligated to give them more freedom in whatever way we can, facilitating a lifestyle of relative comfort and choice.
For the cattle, the ability to roam around at will is paramount. Each winter, we typically keep the bovines in the paddock because the steep trails that lead to the other pastures turn into muddy slush. This slick terrain is not ideal for four Jersey cattle, so we close off the pastures to be safe. This year, we had to shut the gates in the middle of November, much earlier than we’d normally prefer.
Fortunately, the weather dried out and warmed up a bit last week; Thanksgiving brought us sunny and clear blue skies. While the chimps were napping off their holiday feast, we decided to open the swing gates to let the cattle back out onto their pastures.
When bovines get excited, they will trot, gallop and buck until they are content. The best time to see this behavior is when they get access to a new pasture. Even though it’s almost winter and it had only been a few weeks, they still seemed to appreciate having their familiar pastures once again.
P.S. Thanksgiving may be behind us, but there’s a lot to be excited about. In just a couple of days, we will be participating in Giving Tuesday and we have some exciting news to share!
That’s a beautiful evening sky!
Wasn’t it amazing???
we have had drizzle for most of the week down here in the Houston area….looking better for next week…..I can’t kick that high anymore, not sure I really ever could…
Hahaha! Thanks for reading, Tom!
Love the cattle and after all, who doesn’t enjoy a good walk after a big Thanksgiving Day feast!
The chimps all took a big nap after their meal- except for Burrito, who seems to convert his food into usable energy with remarkable efficiency. 🙂
I am thankful that the cattle appear to be thankful for their surroundings. It is beautiful to watch them trot around their field.
Indeed, I am always thankful for the work and vision of those who have rescued the cattle and their chimpanzee neighbors (and, for that matter, the rescued pit bulls, Wilson and Abby). To Steve La Chappelle, Diana, J.B, and all those past and present who care for the residents of this sanctuary, I am grateful every day for the application of your scientific knowledge as well as your dedication and compassion. As on Thursday’s video of the Thanksgiving feast, it is joyous to see the chimpanzees so excited and happy. From the sounds of Jody and her friends, I surmise that they have high regard for the quality of the cuisine.
Thank you for your support, as always! 🙂
Now that’s an uplifting video! These are four of the happiest cows I have ever seen! They are skipping with joy. I think I heard one say “Yippeeeee!” as they were running about. Thanks for capturing their pure delight over being able to run about the expanse along Young’s Hill. The cows may be captive but they are clearly thankful for what they have, and that includes the kindness and love you give to each of them.
I’m not sure if they feel gratitude towards us specifically, but they definitely appreciate the simple pleasures that we provide for them. That’s enough for me. 🙂
Thanks for reading the blog and supporting our work, Kathleen!
So wonderful to see such happiness!
I agree, Linda!
What a joyful video Anthony…it reminds me of springtime here .
As you might know, there are a lot of cows in the Netherlands; land of milk and cheese.
And in the springtime, when it is nice and sunny, the cows are let outside for the first time after a winter inside, and they jump and run and buck of happyness. It is a spectacle that draws many people. We call it “cowdance-day”, and it is a happy celebration of spring.
But that is in the future; we had our first frost last night…BRRRRRR
Wow, Marianne!
I had to look it up. This is the video I found. Thanks for the insight!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA8dAnlD51o
They sure do seem to be having a grand ol time!!! What a super fun video! A great way to start my morning!
Thanks, Deanna!