Ever been the cow's tail?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340019)
Rockingham, Australia
July 27, 2017 12:03am CST
Have you ever been called ‘the cow’s tail’? This used to be said in our household quite often. If you were the last out of bed in the morning or the last to arrive for a meal, you would be called the cow’s tail.
We saw a heap of cows’ tails recently when we followed a herd of cows as a farmer was moving his cattle along the road. We were up in the Grands Causses area of southern France.
I’ve been trying for weeks to get a good photo of these red and white cattle which I’m sure are of the Montbéliarde breed. These are dairy-type cattle used mainly for dairying and particularly cheese-making. They are red pied (red and white speckled) with white heads and short horns.
Holstein cattle (black and white) are also popular for dairying and there were some Holsteins in this herd too. The Montbéliarde is generally believed to have greater longevity ad fertility than the Holstein and the culls are worth more. We don’t see the Montbéliarde in Australia but they are very pretty cattle.
17 people like this
19 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Jul 17
Pretty cows, we have many kinds here.Please dont ask me to name them 
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
I've always been interested in the different livestock breeds. 
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
27 Jul 17
No I have never been called that but I know it is a delicacy in some parts. Nice looking bunch
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
We've seen pigs' tongues here made into a sort of brawn as a cold meat for lunch. That was new to us.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
I know many of the Australian, British and US breeds but not so much the European ones.
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
27 Jul 17
Good usage.I liked it. Good information on cattle varieties in Australia.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
Thanks. I'm glad you found the information interesting.
@AliCanary (3239)
•
27 Jul 17
Ha ha, I've never been CALLED that (it's not a saying we use in this country, as far as I know), but I have most definitely BEEN that--many times. I'm a late riser :)
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jul 17
@AliCanary I really hate being late and get really anxious about it. Luckily Vince is much the same so we're rarely late. Vince's sister is ALWAYS late and I can't understand it really.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3239)
•
27 Jul 17
@JudyEv - If I've said I'll be somewhere by a certain time, I'm quite punctual. But if I haven't made any such guarantee, all bets are off!!!!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jul 17
Never heard that term before.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
27 Jul 17
If they have red feet, they are probably the "Pie Rouge des Plaines" (litterally red feet), the look is similar to the Montbéliarde. The "Pie Rouge" is a modern breed especially created at the beginning of the 70's for dairy. They produce more milk.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Jul 17
I am unfamiliar with that one.
1 person likes this
@gilggg (2538)
• Israel
27 Jul 17
It's a nice picture of those kind of cows
I do not know the expression that you wrote, but in my country they say: It is better to be a tail of the lions from the head of the foxes, which means: it is better to be small between the big ones than the big one berween smallers.
I do not know the expression that you wrote, but in my country they say: It is better to be a tail of the lions from the head of the foxes, which means: it is better to be small between the big ones than the big one berween smallers.1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180703)
• United States
27 Jul 17
Mooo, no I was never called the cow's tail. Nice pic
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jul 17
Thanks. Moving past the cows so slowly it was easy to get some good photos.
@Letranknight2015 (51957)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
We had cows walking over here as well, but not often like they used to. No, I'm glad i didn't have to be called that or I would force myself to walk up everyday.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
So you've changed from being late to being early.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 17
I believe we export a lot of dairy cows to India.
