FROM: Sturgess, Frances Coulter
TO:[log in to unmask]
SUBJECT: cows
DATE: 12-17-96   14:06 EST
PRIORITY:


I agree with Anna, that there's a lot of good to be said about cows.  I'm
pretty sure thenegative feelings/ comparison is more in the nature of
"enslavement" and "domestic animal" as dairying is such a HUGE industry--part
of what we call Agribusiness, and the animals are reduced to components (which
is why so many people become vegetarian--looking at how animals are
penned/fed/mechanized/questions re sanitation --practical issues let alone
philosophical ones.  Smaller farms, as the one my Dad was raised on, are some
different as you can get to know 150 cows--but here in Calif, where several
hundred are the norm, well.  My dad used to get upset Calif cows had to sleep
outside... of course it does not snow here, but frost isn't comfortable.

Ignorance is rife.  Most folks think cows milk comes from the store, its given
by the cow, how dare you mention Pregnant (!) (let alone the Bull!) and of
course the calf gets mothers milk  (they used to anyway--from a bucket with a
nipple on it--i think my cousin (who now has the farm in PA) does add some
sort of fortifier...I should ask)