You’ve heard the expression “Man’s best friend” when it comes to a dog, but what about “Cow’s best friend”? At our farm, our pup quickly befriended one of the most popular cows we have ever had. Besides the obvious size and species differences, these two have incredibly similar personalities. Both are incredibly mischievous, smart, loving, and special in their own way.
Back in November 2023, my mother decided she wanted a puppy. The whole family was excited, and her and my brothers went to pick the little girl up. When they brought her home, they had decided to name her Charli. Now, Charli wasn’t the typical cute, sweet, black lab puppy — oh no, not at all. She was a little piranha and liked to nip and scratch and play constantly. After three months of being in the house, it was time for the farm. She took to the farm like a pig to mud and would run and play and constantly, finding trouble wherever she stuck her nose. Then she found Buddy . . . talk about a tornado meeting a volcano.
Buddy is the smartest, most mischievous cow we have ever had. She can unlock gate chains, feed herself by turning the feeders on, move the fan to where it’s only on her, and so much more. She’s 9 years old and has made herself “Facebook famous” over the years from her constant mischief. So, when Charli came around, the 9-year-old cow and the 9-month-old pup quickly became the holy terrors of the dairy.
When milking time arrives twice a day each day, you can guarantee that wherever Buddy is, Charli isn’t far behind. Before Charli could reach the top of the water trough, Buddy would give her a boost for her to climb in. Charli, in turn, would steal the sorting stick from us so Buddy could get away with breaking into the parlor and turning on us. These two stick close and certainly have their own friendship in their own way. Where you find one, the other isn’t far away. When mischief strikes, you can guarantee they are side by side causing the trouble. You can’t even be mad because it’s too hilarious. Sometimes these moments are important to keep us going through the heat. Keep your heads high and stay safe folks.
The author is a sixth-generation farmer and fifth-generation dairy producer in southwest Virginia, where she and her family own and operate a 145-head Holstein dairy. Courtney is involved in agriculture organizations throughout her community and is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
