Cows in the Field (3 pix)

[thomascanty]

Behind the motel I stay at when I go to Jackson, California, is a large cattle ranch. I usually get a few pictures of the cows while I'm there.
http://www.ldphotography.net/Travel/20050511-15/slides/Jackson%20003.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS @ 400mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 100

The grass was pretty tall this Spring. The smaller calves could get lost in it.
http://www.ldphotography.net/Travel/20050511-15/slides/Jackson%20004.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS @ 400mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 100

It looks like something took a bite out of her ear.
http://www.ldphotography.net/Travel/20050511-15/slides/Jackson%20006.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS @ 400mm, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 100

[pcasciola]

Nice shots.

The 2nd one seems to be missing that same spot on the left ear, and the right ears in #2 and #3 seem clipped as well. Could it be some kind of markings the ranch uses?

[Curtis N]

My guess is #2 and #3 are the same animal.
I know ear notching is common in the hog industry but I've not heard it used for cattle. I don't know what the climate is in Jackson, CA, but in Wisconsin I've seen cattle lose parts of their ears from frostbite.

[thomascanty]

#2 and #3 are definitely not the same animal. #2 is much smaller and they're different shades of brown. I just scanned through the other pictures I took and it looks like most, but not all, have that notched right ear. I hadn't noticed that before. There were also a couple more with the cut-short left ear, but not very many.

Jackson's temperature can dip below freezing in the winter, but it's not normal and doesn't last long. I suppose it could last long enough to cause frostbite, especially with the winter we had this year. That could account for the left ears (why always the left, though?), but I don't think it would make sense as an explanation for the notches on the right ears.

Beats me...

[pleutim]

That is one gorgeous black cow! Look at the sheen to the hair!! Great shots. Makes me miss my grandpa's farm.

[sixshot]

These are Moooooooooooo-tastic. I like the last one the most.

[stoneylonesome]

Nice ones. Looks like they've fattened them up pretty good, couple of nice steaks there. :lol: :lol:

[Maureen Souza]

Nice...looks like there is plenty of grass for them to fatten up on!

[sparker1]

Nice shots, Lonnie. With regard to the ear controversy, I have seen ear notches used a lot here in the South as a means of ID. Nowadays, tags are more likely, and they create an uglier distraction in a photo.

[Michaelmjc]

Nice shot, the second one is the best.

[thomascanty]

Thanks for all the comments. I'd always seen ear tags used for identification also. I suppose the notched ears on these ones could be for ID purposes, though it didn't seem consistent enough to me for that.

[marie]

Nice ones. Looks like they've fattened them up pretty good, couple of nice steaks there. :lol: :lol:



takes Sandy to be always thinking of his stomach:lol: :lol:

very nice Lonnie

I would imagine the cows are not eating that grass..it's very long.
chewing the cud must be difficult

:lol: :lol:

[josefine]

I love the first one!
not that I actually have a clue, but I would have "stamped" away the white spots on its back maybe?
yej for balck farm animals ;)