Moo-Moo The Cow Retires To Bovine Nursing Home

Photo by Tainan City Government 

Moo-Moo The Cow Retires To Bovine Nursing Home
After Moo-Moo provides 23-years of friendship, love and service through plowing farmer Liang Ping’s fields, the Old Cows Home provides her a pampered retirement.

Holding the lead rope in his left hand and signaling directions to his bighorn cow Moo-Moo, 76-year-old Liang Ping murmurs quietly, “This is your last time out in the fields. A good life now awaits you! No more hard work pulling plows.”

Time has taken its toll on this elderly farmer from Douliu, Yunlin County, Formosa. After years of toiling in the fields, his back has become slightly hunched and his legs unsteady. He and his bovine colleague together recall a once ubiquitous scene across Formosa that has largely disappeared with the introduction of agricultural machinery.

Moo-Moo was Mr. Liang’s daily working companion for 23 years. When she first came to the Liang family as a two-year-old, the farmer became her nursemaid and taught her how to pull a cart and draw a plow. The two developed such a close relationship that Mrs. Liang joked of coveting the affection Mr. Liang held for Moo-Moo as it seemed even stronger than his love for her.

“I have raised many cows over the years but Moo-Moo has been in my life the longest and we are very close,” said Liang. Moo-Moo became a member of his household when Mr. Liang was 50. And as they spent each day together from sunrise to sunset, in time they grew as close as a father and daughter.

Liang was a married man and father when he acquired Moo-Moo, and with her help he earned enough money to build a house and pay for his children’s tuition and wedding.“Thanks to Moo-Moo, my family has been able to live a decent life,” he said with much gratitude.

On the eve of Moo-Moo’s departure, sleep evaded Grandpa Liang. He went to the pen to see his friend one last time, and cried involuntarily as he gently caressed her from head to tail and spoke as he would to a daughter on the eve of her marriage: “This is your last night home. You will be going to a new home tomorrow. When you get there, be good and amiable so people will love you.”

In contrast to the weakening of social bonds brought about by automation, genuine affection grew between man and cow during the 23 years Mr. Liang and Moo-Moo spent together. And despite Moo-Moo’s advanced age, with her super-sized horns, she still looked very strong. Many individuals enquired about obtaining her, only to be chased away by an angry Mr. Liang and the answer: “Moo-Moo is not for sale.”

Liang was aware that once they have outlived their usefulness, many cows and oxen in Formosa are sold to the slaughterhouse. However, this practice runs contrary to the Liang family maxim that has been passed down from generation to generation. Besides, Mr. Liang’s strong emotional ties with Moo-Moo also ensured that she would not meet such a tragic fate. They continued to work together in his fields even as neighboring farmers automated their operations.   But he was very worried that he would not find a suitable place for Moo-Moo before he became too old to care for her and protect her.

Out of concern for his health, his children urged Mr. Liang to give up his outdated farming methods, but to no avail. When his daughter learned that a home for aging cows had been established by the government Agricultural Bureau in Tainan, southern Formosa (Taiwan), however, she finally persuaded him to send Moo-Moo to the retirement home. Because the home had only 10 spaces, Mr. Liang was concerned that if he waited, he might miss the opportunity to provide a good home for her if he should pass away first.  He agreed only after he had personally surveyed the facility.  He assured himself the retirement home would provide the kind of compassionate care he wanted for his beloved companion as he became too old to care for her.

Located in Liuying district, Tainan City, the Old Cows Home offers shelter to bovine friends over 10 years of age who are no longer able to work in the fields, thus saving them from the slaughterhouse. The two-hectare shelter has a regular and an isolation dormitory. Under the care of experienced livestock raisers and veterinarians, the bovine retirees spend the rest of their lives in this quiet, serene environment, and are available for visits by their original caretakers at all times.

During her last time in the fields, Moo-Moo moved no more than a few dozen meters, but spent a much longer time than usual as though she was reluctant to leave. Choking back tears, Grandpa Liang said, “I really can’t bear to see her go!” After the work was done, he gave her a bath to get her ready before the arrival of the “bridal car.” Su Yuan, an official from Tainan’s Agricultural Department, arrived with a box of mangoes tied with a huge red ribbon as the betrothal gift. In return, Grandpa Liang prepared six huge bundles of Moo-Moo’s favorite forage grass and a lead rope as dowry.

With an aching heart, he tried to lead Moo-Moo to the car but she kept retreating, refusing to give in to anyone’s persuasion. “Be good, Moo-Moo,” he said by her side, “people will take care of you in your new home.” But she shook her head violently while continuously trying to step backward, showing her reluctance to part with her beloved caretaker. After many attempts, she eventually got into the car’s trailer. Even as the ignition was being turned on, Grandpa Liang repeatedly reminded the staff from the Old Cows Home about Moo-Moo’s preferences and habits.

Once the car departed, Grandpa Liang burst into tears. His heart ached every time he saw Moo-Moo’s empty cow pen. His bovine friend fared no better, refusing to eat at her new home, staying on her feet throughout the day and not sleeping a wink at night. With sorrowful eyes, she kept shaking her head, sometimes pushing her new caregiver away. Not even her favorite forage grass from Grandpa could tempt her to eat.

When news of her tantrums reached the Liang family, Mr. Liang again broke into tears, knowing that she missed him terribly. Choking on his words, he implored a visiting journalist to carry a message to Moo-Moo. Perhaps it was telepathy between them. When Moo-Moo heard the message, “Grandpa misses you. He is worried about you. He wants you to eat,” she became teary-eyed as she gazed into the distance as if she knew how he missed her. The closeness that the two shared despite being miles apart touched the hearts of the caretakers, who hoped that Grandpa would visit her at the Old Cows Home some time.

Then, after six days, Grandpa came to the Home bringing Moo-Moo’s favorite feed grass. Tears fell down his face when he arrived, and even a nearby volunteer was affected. Grandpa watched his friend from a distance, unable to find the courage to move closer. Moo-Moo, who had turned her back on everyone else, could barely believe that Grandpa had suddenly come. It was as though they had been separated for many years.

Next, while patting her head, Grandpa asked, “Moo-Moo, have you been good? Have you been crying?” He patted her body and found that she had become much leaner over the past week. He walked her around the meadow just as he did back home and Moo-Moo chewed on the grass, reliving their happy times together.

When it was time to leave, Grandpa Liang bade Moo-Moo goodbye. Though there were no tears, the farewell scene was nonetheless touching.

One early morning six months later, Grandpa Liang, who had by now overcome his sadness, left for Tainan carrying four sacks of forage grass. As soon as he arrived at the Old Cows Home, he went to see Moo-Moo, patted her on her head and back and asked if she missed home. But Moo-Moo did not respond. He offered her her favorite grass hoping to awaken her memories. However, much to his disappointment, Moo-Moo showed interest only in the grass. Mr. Liang then wondered if she no longer remembered him and consoled himself that perhaps she had adapted and considered this her home.

When he waved goodbye, Moo-Moo turned and gazed at him affectionately for a long, long while. “She recognizes me!” he said. Grandpa was overcome by tears. He realized that his longtime companion had pretended not to recognize him for fear of bringing him heartache in his old age. His goodbye also reminded Moo-Moo of the reality of life. As she wondered when they would meet again, she could not but gaze at him for a long time in hope and blessing. A smile broke out on Grandpa’s wrinkled face. He knew that Moo-Moo would always remember him just as she would remain forever in his memory.

The story of Grandpa Liang and Moo-Moo, which has become widely known in Formosa through extensive media coverage, offers valuable lessons in life and rural reform. Many schools and parents arrange educational trips for children to the Old Cows Home, which offers free admission to all. Today, eight old cows and oxen are retired there. The Tainan government accepts donations for the Home’s operation and the residents’ medical care. The love, compassion, and farsightedness of the facility’s staff are highly admirable. We hope it will serve as a model for other shelters in Formosa and around the world, showing that concern for life may be incorporated into government organizations. After spending long lives of dedicated work, cows and oxen, should receive compassionate treatment in retirement as they do at Tainan’s Old Cows Home. And may the world soon be free of killing and violence as more people adopt the vegan lifestyle.

本文發表於goldenagenews(原稿為中文,由goldenagenews翻譯)
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