Cows are cool. And around here, our beloved Angus, Hereford, and Holstein cows are abundant. Our cows are never far from home, as evidenced by the photo to the left taken a few miles north of Hazard. The featured Holsteins above are hanging out a couple miles west of Hazard. Charolais and Simmentals are also cool customers that roam our area.

Area cow photos - permission required for use of pictures

Left: Picture of Angus cows and their calves grazing in a pasture west of Hazard at early dawn. The white face cow is a first cross (F1) of an Angus x Hereford. Right: A Black Angus bull shows his physique as sunset nears in this pasture east of town.

Left: Picture of Hereford cow demonstrating her maternal instincts with her calf in a pasture east of town. Right: Three Hereford bulls display their sharp stature on a farm that raises Polled Herefords north of Hazard. Photos taken September 2002.

Left: Picture of young Holstein cows hamming it up for the camera west of town in October 2002. Right: Three Holstein steers ponder the photo opportunity in this pasture east of town. Photo taken September 2002. Additional Holstein pictures & trivia can be found off our Hazard Holstein Fan Page.

Left: Picture of Charolais cows and their calves grazing on a north hill that overlooks Hazard. Right: A meat & potatoes Charolais bull oversees the herd while grazing during this September afternoon in 2002.

Left: Picture of a Simmental cow heading up a hill east of town. Right: Simmental cows showing their multi-colored nature, be it red and white, light brown, rich brown, etc. Photos taken in September 2002

Longhorns are a sturdy class recognized as the oldest breed of cattle in North America. Left: Corriente cows were brought to America by the Spanish as early as 1493. They run a bit smaller but have really cool horns. Photo of this herd taken west of Hazard. Right: The well recognized Texas Longhorn was tailored entirely by nature here in North America. These cool critters are hanging out on the prairie east of town. Photos taken in September 2002.

Left: One of many cattle crossing signs - to help protect Hazard's finest. Right: While horses are still used for checking and rounding up cattle, three and four-wheelers are practical alternatives as evidenced by this farmer and his son east of Hazard.

Things about Hazard cows you always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask...

• A newborn calf weighs anywhere from 60 - 90 lbs. Holsteins can weigh 100 lbs. at birth.

• Along with grass, hay, and grain (corn, wheat, barley, oats, & soybeans), cows also like fruit and vegetables. Cows will eat cabbage, taters (including sweet potatoes), apples, rutabagas, beets, turnips, carrots, broccoli, pumpkins, and squash. Bypassing table manners, these ruminant herbivores can eat their veggies whole or slightly chewed, then chew the undigested portion (cud) later, at a more convenient time.

• Cows poop a lot - up to 15 times a day. They drain their radiators with equal vigor, excreting around 3½ gallons of urine daily.

• Cows can jump. If given a running start, they can jump over a fence—most never try because there's really no point.

• Cows like to swim and frolic in the moonlight. Studies show their nocturnal activity increases when it's a full moon.

• Cows have 300° (near panoramic) vision and can see in color, except red.

• Cows have a great sense of smell and can detect scents over five miles away.

• Cows have no top front teeth, just a tough pad of skin. Instead of biting at prairie grass and hay, cows use their long and flexible tongues that are course at the surface to wrap and pull the foliage in. They have nice bottom front teeth (eight) that secures the grass against the top pad, then will swing their heads up to break off the grass. They have six powerful molars (top and bottom of jaw) used for slight chewing the first time down, and for chewing the regurgitated cud on the rebound.

• A cow has one stomach with four "compartments."

• The normal cow's body temperature is 101.5°.

• A heifer is a female bovine that has not yet had a calf or developed mature characteristics of a cow.

• A steer is a male bovine that's been fixed (castrated).

• A bull is a male bovine that's good to go.

• Though used as a catch word for all cattle, cows are by definition mature female bovines that have given birth to a calf.

• The scientific name for the cow group (all cattle) is bos taurus, a subfamily of the bovidae family.

• Creep feeding refers to giving nutrition-supplemental grains to nursing calves.

• Polled cattle refers to bovines that are naturally without horns-hornless.

• Veal is a sad example of human arrogance. It involves the practice of separating a young calf (commonly a male dairy calf) from its mother shortly after birth, confining it to a very small indoor pen without exercise or sunlight and feeding it an artificially formulated diet―all to keep the calf muscle pale and "tender." Calves are then slaughtered and this cholesterol-rich meat is served to sad sacs who consider it a delicacy. Public awareness has created a significant reduction in veal consumption over recent decades.

• Angus - From Celtic origin comes the hornless, black as coal bovines called Angus. Farmers from Angus and Aberdeen counties in northeast Scotland are credited with the formation of the breed. The first Angus bulls in America were transported from Scotland to a ranch near Victoria, Kansas in 1873. Angus cows are noted for their durability, calving ease, and maternal traits. Among beef cattle, they are the largest registered breed in North America.

• Herefords - Herefords, characterized by their red hair and white faces, began in the mid 1700s by farmers near the town of Hereford, England. These farmers needed a breed of cattle that could efficiently convert their native grass to beef. Though they have seen many changes over time, Herefords are still a major industrial breed as they mature early and have favorable longevity.

• Simmental - The name is traced to their original location, the Simme Valley of Switzerland. Simmentals are one of the world's oldest and most widely distributed breeds with an estimated 40 - 60 million Simmentals worldwide. While still more common in Europe, they have become a major breed of beef cattle in North America. These varied color bovines of impressive stature are known for their rapid growth development and great milk production. 

• Charolais - Charolais are one of the oldest breeds in France, from the old French provinces of Charolles and neighboring Nievre. They are distinct with their white or cream colored hair and large size. Charolais are known to feed aggressively in both warm and cold weather that lends to rapid growth.

• Holsteins - Holsteins are traced to the northern regions of the Netherlands, and Holland was the early exporter of these black & white beauties to America. Aside from outstanding milk production, Holsteins are social and stylish, and downright good folk. But their innocuous look doesn't negate their physical stature as Holsteins are notably larger than most of their beef cattle counterparts. Holstein cows weigh about 1,500 lbs and stand an average of 58" high at the shoulder. Holstein bulls can weigh 2,600 lbs or more. Holsteins aren't the only breed of dairy cows, but they're the most common. Their spots are like snowflakes—no two are identical.

• At two years of age, a cow will give birth to her first calf.

• A cow will typically spend 6 hours a day grazing and 8 hours chewing cud (regurgitated food i.e. grass that is harder to digest).

• Though it varies by breed, a mature cow weighs between 1,000 - 1,500 lbs. Bulls commonly average between 1,600 - 2,200 lbs. though some can get considerably heavier.

• And from firsthand experience: ―Holstein cows like having their picture taken. During mating season, Angus bulls do not.

Hazard Holstein Fan Page: Includes additional hi res photos

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