Thursday, March 03, 2005

for the Smallholder

Via KBJ, a link that might interest the Smallholder.

Excerpt:

Cows are capable of strong emotions such as pain, fear and even anxiety about the future. But if farmers provide the right conditions, they can also feel great happiness.

The findings have emerged from studies of farm animals that have found similar traits in pigs, goats and chickens. They suggest such animals may be so emotionally similar to humans that welfare laws need to be reconsidered.

A New Zealand buddy of mine told the story of a cow slaughter, in which most of the cows were cordoned off while a particular cow was killed right there on the field. The cow's body was carted off and the other cows were allowed to roam free again.

The cows immediately went to the blood pooled in the grass and began sniffing. This lasted a few minutes. Then, almost as if on cue, they all went nuts, lowing loudly, running about, throwing their heads around.

Mmmm. Beef.



(The above was David Lynch's contribution to a "CowParade NYC 2000" event featuring fiberglass cows that had been worked over by various artists. Lynch's work was banned, much to Lynch's disappointment, but I'm glad I had a chance to see a picture of it. By the way: those things sticking out of the cow's ass are forks.)


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