How was it possible for the cows to eat it, she wondered. Could they not smell it as the steam arose from the piles in bunkers at daybreak? She had tasted the blackstrap molasses that the cows sometimes were given, but that other stuff, not on a dare! The taste of grain and alfalfa pellets wasn't bad either to her way of thinking. She had even chewed on a piece of sweet hay and of straw more than once, but she would never dream of eating even a morsel of that fermented cow chow. Fortunately for her, their cows didn't have to be fed the rank smelling silage that many beef cattle were given.
Smell. Another meaning of this versatile word.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of smells on a farm, some good and some not so good. :-)
DeleteSome animal feeds must taste better than they smell, at least to the animals.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is kind of how some people can really like a certain smell, and for others the same source of the smell almost makes them want to throw up.
DeleteThe closest I ever got to cattle was my uncles cow chasing me. She was HUGE. I've never been very fond of them since :) And I certainly wasn't inclined to feed her after that. I've opened some cat food that I wondered how in the world they were eating it though! Great story!
ReplyDeleteHaving a cow, or possibly a bull chase you would certainly leave a scary memory. Canned cat food isn't a favorite smell of mine either.
DeleteI have eaten dog food, and that was nice. But cattle feed? I think not thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteClick here to read my six!
Hmmm. . . do have a favorite brand you like? HaHa I've never tried eating dog food, and at this point in my life, I am not likely to do so.
DeleteI loved this farmkid tale, and could definitely see her sampling some of the cattle fare, but she is right, silage, especially when older, smells rank indeed!
ReplyDeleteI would imagine you are right about the old silage being worse smelling than freshly made before it has had time to ferment much.
DeleteI have to agree that blackstrap molasses is good stuff, and I've chewed on more than one piece of sweet hay when staying with my cousins at the farm, but that's about as far as my taste testing is willing to go! I did have a childhood friend who thought puppy kibble tasted great... that was a little strange! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of very young children getting into the dog and cat food when I parent wasn't watching. To my knowledge I never tried that, or if I did no one brought up the subject later to me.
Deleteamazing how smell can be incredibly significant and at the same time, not matter. Una can follow a scent like any dog will, getting a lot of information and then, she will also sometimes eat things off the ground that... well, for having such a sensitive nose, she must be able to turn it on and off or something. lol
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, dogs have a strange way of doing that. Yuck!
DeleteMy sister used to snack on dog biscuits, but I would never dare try them. Few things are as rank as a stockyard though.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't help when some snacks for dogs resemble people food. No wonder they are tempting to young children.
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