The Story of U-Ness

A Cow Tale

U-Ness is a mixed-breed cow my wife Jackie and I bought to add to our herd. 

I buy some of our hay from a dairy farmer named Ray Churchill. The summer of 2021, Ray would periodically mention a neighbor whose 94-year-old mother had two older beef cows she wanted to sell. The price was very reasonable at $1500 for the pair, as they had been running with a Beefalo bull of Ray’s and were likely bred. 

Ray was trying to help the son re-home the cows for his ailing mother, but there was a catch: she didn’t want them to be slaughtered, but to be used for continued breeding. For burger, they would sell quickly. Apparently one potential buyer—doubtless an opportunistic livestock dealer—offered $600 for the pair, an insult to all involved.