Cocoa The Love Sick Cow

 

COCOA THE COW

This story has its beginnings in Ortonville in May, 1982.  At that time, we purchased a bummer lamb (no mom – drinking from bottle) and a 5 day old heifer calf which we soon named Cocoa.  We brought the 2 animals back to the farm in the back seat of our old blue Pontiac and received many second glances as we drove right through the middle of the city of Pontiac.  We arrived home and immediately set about the task of making the calf grow – bottle feedings of our special milk were then followed by introductions to grass, grain, hay, pumpkins, etc.  The Schmidt children and adults, had no illusions, Cocoa would someday be butchered and provide us with a great quantity of beef.

Cocoa grew to be a large, obnoxious heifer – mooing (bellowing) monthly for a friend – any bull would do.  Her sexual identity at times reached a state of confusion which might explain her mounting Larry as he fixed the fence.  She weighed 600 pounds and pinned his face and shoulders to the ground.  Finally, Larry looked up hoping for a little help but I was just standing there laughing.  We did agree that you should never turn your back on a frustrated heifer. 

Time passed and Cocoa’s final days seemed to fly by.  On her last day at Maplewoods Farm, she was given a sad goodby from the children and driver on Anna’s school bus.  They had followed her progress and Mrs. Osborne often stopped the bus by the fence to watch Cocoa and greet her.  On this day, the bus stopped once more by the fence – Mrs. Osborne opened her window and bid a last farewell.  The children waved good-by and the bus departed leaving Cocoa to her fate.

We hired a young man to take Cocoa to Howell to be butchered.  It surprised us when Cocoa was loaded with relative ease.  Larry coaxed her with feed while Tom pulled on a rope and quickly Cocoa was in the trailer, eating her last meal.

Cocoa was gone but not soon to be forgotten.  The steaks, roasts, hamburger and more are tender and delicious.  The cost came to around $1.80/pound – a little high but the meat has been a real treat.

Will we ever get another cow – no – maybe a steer but never a love sick, bony heifer.  She was a sweetheart when we got her – bottle feeding time was memorable but time passes and our parting was anything but sad.

Where Cocoa is standing, there are now the very expensive homes that are part of Island Lake Estates.