Among cattle, it is difficult to find more adorable animals than fluffy little cows. Plush pets are bred solely for the pleasure of the soul and eyes. Cows do not produce milk, and using animals as a source of meat is unprofitable, because the minimum cost of one calf is 6 thousand dollars. Despite the exorbitant prices, cows are popular.
Origin
The wonderful plush cow cows owe their appearance to farmer Matt Lottner from Iowa.Small, toy-like animals became famous in 2011. At that time, an enterprising farmer published photographs of his pets on the Internet. The furry beauties, bred by Matt Lottner, instantly captured the hearts of animal lovers, but their real popularity came in 2013 after participating in the annual Farm Animal Fair.
Evil tongues claim that the plush miracle has nothing to do with breeding work. Detractors believe that the appearance of cows is achieved through the original technique of cutting and styling the pets' fur.
Appearance
This shaggy, “toy” cow can’t boast of impressive size. The tallest representatives of the furry family barely reach 135 cm at the withers. Despite its modest parameters, the weight of the animal differs little from the weight of ordinary cows. The weight of a plush heifer is 500 kg, a bull gains 750-800 kg.
Hairy pets have a number of distinctive features:
- As befits a plush creature, the animal does not have horns. This feature emphasizes the decorative appearance of the pet.
- The elegant coat of a cow is colored milky, red, brownish-beige, black or reddish.
- The coat is soft and straight. The quality of the vegetation is often compared to alpaca wool.
- A wide, powerful back, rounded sides, a short neck and a small head give the animal’s body the appearance of a massive rectangle.
- The pet's magnificent body is supported by straight, short legs. Dense, fluffy vegetation completely covers the surface of the animal’s body from the top of the head to the hooves.Thanks to the total overgrowth, the cow's limbs look like shaggy, neat columns.
- The cow's udder is very poorly developed. The organ is only suitable for feeding a calf.
- The tail of this funny animal is evenly covered with soft fur. A tassel is formed at the end of the tail.
Characteristic
Despite the fact that they are long-haired Highland cows, Dutch, red steppe existed earlier, plush cows differ from their relatives. The decorative animal is completely covered with soft fur, which gives the pet the appearance of a neat three-dimensional rectangle. The breed was bred to attract attention to farm products and decoration of the estate.
Unfortunately, the spectacular appearance of the animal does not last long. After the cow reaches the age of 1 year, the structure of the pet’s coat changes not for the better. The plant cover of the horned beauty loses its softness and silkiness, the animal turns into an overweight, shaggy creature. The cow retains its hair, and with good care the appearance of the animal remains quite attractive, but the pet is not suitable for participation in exhibitions. Thanks to its docile nature, the plush cow will delight adults and children for many years.
Animals mature late. Bulls reach maximum weight only by 2.5 years. Heifers are ready to reproduce by 38 months. The long period of animal development is fully compensated by the duration of reproductive age. Cows can bear offspring for 18 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
Toy cows leave no one indifferent, but getting yourself a cute animal is not so easy. You need to make a decision only after weighing all the pros and cons of the breed.
The subtleties of keeping plush cows
Fluffy beauties are kept in a clean, dry, warm room. In warm weather they are released to a separate pasture. To maintain good physical shape, pets need regular exercise.
Cow lifestyle
In normal times, cows are bathed at least once a week. During the procedure, be sure to use special zoo shampoos and balms. Wool is dried only with a hair dryer. Otherwise, the cow's hair will become matted and lose its attractiveness. To give your pet's coat a plush appearance, the fur needs to be trimmed regularly. For the procedure, special scissors, combs, brushes, combs and a scraper are used. Masks are made 1-2 times a week to care for the coat. The product contains natural oils.
Nutrition
The quality of a pet's hair depends, first of all, on a properly formulated diet.The required amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is added to the cow's feed.
Most of the cow's diet consists of ordinary plant food, but to fully saturate the pet with the necessary substances, the cow is given granulated, dry food. In summer, 60% of the daily diet consists of fresh grass, in winter - hay. The remaining share comes from bone meal, mineral and vitamin supplements.
On average, the daily diet of an adult pet consists of: 8 kg of grass, 4 kg of hay or straw, 5 kg of cereals, 4 kg of root vegetables, 2 kg of bran, 1.5 kg of concentrates, 1 kg of cake, 1 kg of bone meal.
Pre-show care
Before important display at an exhibition, the pet is washed daily. Each time, the cow’s wool is treated with balms and special lotions. Healing oils are rubbed into the skin. For drying, use a hair dryer with a hair straightening function and equipment that provides a continuous flow of warm air. The strands are styled using special sprays and varnish. For greater effect, experienced breeders use neoprene wrapping. These products give the animal’s fur coat a special shine and silkiness. If necessary, the pet's fur is tinted.
Rules and prospects for breeding
Healthy, developed individuals are used for breeding. Heifers are ready for pregnancy and childbirth only after reaching 38 months. During gestation, the cow is fed granulated grains. The concentrated feed should consist of soy, cassava, beets, bran and brewer's yeast. When feeding offspring, special dry formulas are added to mother's milk.
Fluffy cows cannot be used as a source of milk or meat, so they are of no practical interest to ordinary livestock farmers. However, the demand and high cost of animals makes us look at cows differently. The price of winners of special exhibitions reaches 55-65 thousand dollars, so plush calves may well become sources of wealth.
The financial and effort costs of breeding fluffy cows are enormous, but if you take the matter seriously, they will certainly pay off. It should be noted that nowadays it is very difficult to purchase fluffy cows. There is a ban on selling animals out of state.
Diseases and prevention
Like regular cows, plush cows sometimes get sick.
- Cellulitis of the corolla. The disease is an inflammation of the hoof tissue. Trouble overtakes the pet as a result of injury to the hooves. When pathogenic microbes enter the wound, the tissue becomes inflamed and swells. Treatment consists of applying alcohol compresses and washing the wound.
- Laminitis. The disease is expressed in the accumulation and stagnation of blood and fluid in the affected tissues of the hoof. The animal limps, and later the sore spot takes the form of an open wound. The veterinarian trims the sore hoof and washes out the areas of inflammation.
- Viral diarrhea. If treatment is delayed, the dangerous disease threatens mass death of animals. The cause is a viral infection. As a result of the development of the disease, the animal's intestines become inflamed. Treatment is carried out by a veterinarian.
