An excerpt from All Animals Think

[genebo]

An excerpt from All Animals Think, by Virginia Morell



Animals have minds. They have brains and use them as we do: for experiencing the world, for thinking and feeling, and for solving the problems of life every creature faces. Like us, they have personalities, moods and emotions; they laugh and they play. Some show grief and empathy and are self-aware and very likely conscious of their actions and intents.



Not so long ago, I would have hedged these statements, because the prevailing notion held that animals are more like zombies or robotic machines, capable of responding with only simple, reflexive behaviors. And indeed, there are still researchers who insist that animals move through life like the half-dead, but those scientists have been left behind as a flood of new research from biologists, animal behaviorists, evolutionary and ecological biologists, comparative psychologists, and others sweeps away old ideas that have stymied the exploration of animal minds. The question now is not "Do animals think?" It's "How and what do they think?"





end of excerpt





I have long known that my Dexter cattle could think. They exhibit intelligence and have easily recognizable personalities. No two behave exactly the same in interacting with me.

[jamshundred]

Gene,

No so long ago. . . . . those of us who said this were considered nutcases!  Or "women" in the perjorative.   It is good that more people are speaking out.  I know my cows think. . . . and usually while they are at it they are outsmarting me at every turn!   I have seen a mother cow offer comfort to a calf in misery.  We know they feel fear. . . we see it in their eyes when they are in fearful situations, we know they feel love when we watch them with their babies, and we know they feel pain because they groan.  Of course they think.  

Please God, don't let me come back a Holstein!

Judy

[lakeportfarms]

We have a grand old Highland cow, 18 years old this year, who is as smart as anything. Several years ago, we had a customer of ours for Mike's semen that used it to breed his Miniature Herefords. He had been having terrible losses (9 of 12 one year!) in calving of both calves and the dams because of abnormally large calves with broad heads. Mike was used to "condition" the heifers and young cows so they would be used to calving. It turned out well, and they didn't have one problem with calving for two years. They were so grateful, they gave us a young purebred Miniature Hereford heifer as a present.

However, she was wild! A total nutcase, and one day we were moving her from a stall at the house to the farm which was 60 miles away at the time. Sheril and I both had leads on her, and we were trying to crosstie lead her up to the trailer. Somehow she moved toward me and there was too much slack on the lead, and it got behind me while "Eve" pulled Sheril over and then ran around me, wrapping my legs and taking me off my feet. I let go of the lead, and somehow became untangled but Sheril was still holding on with Eve starting to run from her. She went down on her front side, arms above her, and was dragged down the hill toward the pasture. I was yelling "let go" and Sheril was yelling "NEVER". With all the commotion here comes the Highland cow running to the corner of the pasture on the other side of the fence, and I'm up and going to Sheril's aid. Well, about the time I got there, the Highland went over the fence (she never had done that before) and takes her giant horns and starts pushing Eve down onto the ground and trying to pin her. Sheril and I are upset as I'm trying to grab the loose lead and telling the Highland "you're not helping". But we got Eve under control.

After we had calmed down a bit and gotten Eve in the trailer, I told Sheril "I think Girl was trying to help us out". Sheril thought for a second and said "I think you're right". We went over and gave her a big hug and let her back into the pasture. She's helped us on several other times with blocking calves we've tried to catch and such.

This photo was taken 10 years ago, when we had only Mike (he's in the background behind Sheril) and Cedar for Dexters, and a bunch of Angus and Herefords and Highlands (that's a regular Hereford in the background).

[jamshundred]

Hans,

My first venture into cattle was a Jersey cow for milking.
Then I wanted to "raise" cows and I read about the Highlands.  I bought three cows and a bull.   Went to pick up and got the bull in the trailer and chased the three cows for several hours.   And on three more occasions.  The seller was a Dr involved in divorce.  Ex was at the farm.   NO ONE would help and the cows could jump over the fence in the loading area.
Gave up.  That Dr. never gave me back my money.  

Then I read about the Dexters and that was the beginning.  I still love the looks of Highland cattle.  I really, really, like the photos you post of those little Dexter Highland crosses.
And I have to tell Kerrie, it I were a generation younger or so. . . . . there would be "white Dexters"  on my farm.  I am really drawn to the look.  I read that the White Park cattle were considered the "all-around" best English cattle.  Cross with "my" all-around best breed and then bred up to purebred.  Very, very enticing.   Those animals will sell out every year!
  And what is going to compete with them?  RED POLL- ED?  Not on your life.  Watch the exodus of the opportunists.
Judy