07/26/06 Cows like Gals

When I was a young girl I remember getting scolded by my grandpa for chasing his Semimetal cattle on my horse. His philosophy was that a happy cow was better tasting than an unhappy bovine. Some 35 years latter I wonder what grandpa would have thought about the research study that concluded that cattle are happiest around woman. It is well known that one woman; Temple Grandin has made the lives of millions of cattle better by designing more humane feedlots through her methodology of removing square pens in favor of round ones that lack the stressful corners that cause cattle to bunch. Some would say that Temple, who is autistic, is blessed with an innate understanding of animals yet others like vet Neil Chesterton from New Zealand feel women in general can intuitively tell when a cow is hurt or ill. His research has led him to the conclusion that woman are simply better observers than men, and because they can sense when something is not right with a cow, cattle are more content in the company of woman ranchers. &.I would have to add that the women ranchers I know are pretty content as well. I'm Susan Allen and this has been Food Forethought