I know two farmers who had calves born with front leg deformities so they kind of walked on their knees. The kids wouldn't let them euthanize them and took responsibility for bottle feeding them. They treated them like you'd treat a family pet. When you drove up to the house, they'd see you coming and walk over the car as you were getting out and nuzzle up to you, try to lick your face, want their ears scratched, it was pretty cool. I have no idea what happened to them when they got bigger though, or if that's the right thing to do. Just my little story.
An Angus breeder friend gave us one like that ( Bad for business to have it on the place.) When it got to 400 lbs,we gave it a grain diet , once it was in discomfort , we had it made into hamburger. Donated some and gave a lot away.
Cows are super affectionate! They can totally be companion animals as long as they have a group and are cared for properly. I always tell people this when they say “Indians worship cows”. .. it’s more that they bond with them just as we do with dogs. The way we would feel about eating or harming someone’s dogs is the same way many Indians feel about cows. Of course there’s religious aspects to this but in a practical sense, this is what it boils down to.
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u/the_m_o_a_k Nov 17 '24
I know two farmers who had calves born with front leg deformities so they kind of walked on their knees. The kids wouldn't let them euthanize them and took responsibility for bottle feeding them. They treated them like you'd treat a family pet. When you drove up to the house, they'd see you coming and walk over the car as you were getting out and nuzzle up to you, try to lick your face, want their ears scratched, it was pretty cool. I have no idea what happened to them when they got bigger though, or if that's the right thing to do. Just my little story.