The cow is the most productive, efficient creature on earth that Jehovah has created. She is the premier dairy animal because of her cooperative temperament, the comparative ease with which she can be milked, the volume she is able to produce, and because of the versatility of cow's milk. Think of all the delightful physical benefits this lowly and humble animal provides for us. Milk, cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, ghee, buttermilk, whey, and we can't forget about ice-cream.
Cows are referred to as the foster mothers of the human race because they produce most of the milk that people drink.
The first cow in America arrived in Jamestown colony in 1611. Until the 1850's, nearly every family had its own cow. The first regular shipment of milk by railroad was between Orange County, New York, and New York City and began in 1841.
In 1856, Gail Borden invented the condensed milk process. This process removed some of the water from milk so it would take up less space. Refrigeration came into use in 1880, and the first pasteurizing machine was introduced in 1895.
A cow chews her cud (regurgitated, partially digested food) for up to 8 hours each day.
Contrary to popular belief, cows do not have 4 stomachs; they have 4 digestive compartments:
Temperament Of The Jersey Cow
As a whole, the Jersey breed is a docile breed of cow. Female Jersey cows are known as being curious, calm animals, so much so that they were valued as pets as much as herd animals and milk producers. Bulls have been known to be much more aggressive. Their color is generally brown, ranging from copper to dark brown, and they have the most beautiful, big, rich, chocolate brown eyes. A mature cow will weigh 1,000 pounds or less.
By the way, another health benefit we can get from the cow, is lower blood pressure. If you are ever up-tight, take a ride into the country and stop by a field of cows eating grass. It's the picture of poise and calm.
Origin
Jersey cows get their name from their place of origin as a breed, the British Channel Island of Jersey. DNA tests suggest that the breed is descended from Danish cows brought to the island from the continent, but there is no conclusive evidence of this. It is considered to be one of the oldest purebred cattle breeds, with records of breeding going back six centuries.
Every Family Should Have A Cow
The famous 19th Century agricultural essayist, William Cobbett said, "When you have the cow, you have it all." The dairy cow does so much for us and asks so little.
As mentioned before, not so very long ago, a great many people did indeed keep a cow and she was often an adored member of the family. Well-to-do families even in cities kept a cow well into the early part of the 20th Century.
Some of the forces that stopped cow keeping were the same ones that have stressed the American family. A desire for consumer goods which can't be satisfied without focusing the whole energy of the family on acquisition was certainly a factor. The automobile was important; but it dispersed families and directed interest away from home based activities. A rising desire for consumer goods fostered a yearning for enhanced social status. So, the high status animal, the horse, replaced the cow. But all of these factors are as chaff compared to the power of the 20th Century revolution in food production, processing and distribution. There is so much to say about that, and so that will be another topic for another blog at another time.
There is an amazing cow magic that most people don't know about. "A young fellow wantin' a start in life just needs three things: a piece of land, a cow and a wife. And he don't strictly need that last." That's an old saying to which some may agree.
According to the book, "Keeping A Family Cow" by Joann S. Grohman "An over-arching truth about the cow is that she drives the domestic or small farm economy. By living on a constantly renewing resource, grass, she is able to support not just herself and her calf, but also your pig and you chickens (neither of which can live on grass) and still provide milk for the house. The reverse is never true. No pigs or chickens or any other non-grazing animals can live on grass or support another animal. And the cow does it on a free resource made of water and sunshine. Through her amazing ability to convert grass, ( thanks to Jehovah), which otherwise has no value, to milk and meat, which does have value, the cow produces wealth. She thus vaults the domestic or farm economy into a self sustaining mode. Even with the most exacting sweated labor in the orchard or garden, you can't grow plants that will support reproduction in pigs or chickens or any other non-grazing species including humans; the best you can do is fatten them. This key fact about cows should never be forgotten."
So with that said, believe it or not, July 15th is Cow Appreciation Day! -- something to "Moo" about.
Our appreciation for cows can be expressed in many ways. Some websites suggest you go out and give a cow a big hug and/or a kiss. While it might sound like fun, you don't have to go to extremes to enjoy this special day. It can be as simple as pausing for a moment to think about cows, and all that they do for us.
In appreciation for all that the cows do for us, have an ice cold glass of milk. Add chocolate syrup, if you prefer. Then, fire up the grill, and cook some burgers or a steak. And, don't forget to get your fill of cheese. Sorry, goat cheese is not allowed today.
Note: Restaurants and dairy companies celebrate this day by offering specials. Watch for them.
The Origin of Cow Appreciation Day:
Our research did not find the origin of this day. The selection of the date is not universal. Some websites have Cow Appreciation Day listed as July 14th.
So are you ready to get a cow? If not, I hope this blog has heightend your appreciation for this ever giving animal and the one who provided it our loving heavenly father Jehovah God!
Don't forget, hug a cow on July 15th!
This is Raven-as the crow flies!
