FARM ANIMALS

Mourning is not only done for the dead. Sometimes, it’s for those who are still alive but have been taken away from us.

Cows are social beings that can form close relationships with each other, especially with their young. It takes nine months until a cow gives birth, so it’s not surprising that mothers easily get attached to their young and feel devastated once dairy farmers take the calves away just a few hours after birth.

Dairy cows usually try to hide or protect their young, sometimes going as far as attacking whoever tries to take away their babies or

even chasing vehicles carrying their offspring away. Once a mother cow notices that her calf is gone, she would start wailing and calling for her calf relentlessly.

Unfortunately, there are only a few mother-and-calf reunions: Most female calves are taken away to become dairy cows just like their mothers, while male calves end up becoming veal.

We all have different ways of giving respect to, and letting go of, our dead, but seeing how animals mourn theirs shows us how capable they are of loving others. Hopefully, this changes our perspective on how we treat fellow animals.

7 5. Hachikõ in his later years. Photo from Wikipedia / archive copy at the Wayback Machine (archived on 18 September 2009)

6. Tokyo - The statue of Hachiko and his owner is built and located at the faculty of Agriculture at Todai university where his owner worked as professor during being alive. A chicken for sale also feels anger, desperation, fear, and grief. Pigs suffer in cages on the way to the slaughterhouse. 7. 8 8.