Now Australians can adopt-a-cow
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (345526)
Rockingham, Australia
September 4, 2018 6:57pm CST
I watched another interesting segment on TV last night. Much of northern New South Wales and Queensland are in the grip of a drought. Farmers and graziers there are having to sell up their herds because they have run out of hay and grain to feed their stock and there is no grass. South Australian farmers are also doing it tough. Convoys of road trains have been carting donated hay from as far away as Western Australia and Tasmania to help farmers make it through till the rains come.
So last night’s show featured a dairy farmer on the outskirts of Sydney who has come up with a novel way to raise the $8,500 he needs every fortnight to buy hay for his herd.
John Fairley is a sixth-generation farmer and some of his cows also go back for some generations. He says it is now too late to plant crops for spring so he will have to continue hand-feeding for many more months.
For some time the family have been giving free milk and yoghurt at the local high school for children who can’t afford breakfast. He was urged to ask the public to help support their local farmer. The response has been overwhelming.
By sponsoring a cow or calf, donors get a photo of their cow and are told its name. At some time, they can have a tour of the farm, milk a cow and help feed the calves. It is estimated to cost $1,350 to feed a cow till the end of September and there are 130 cows in the herd.
He pointed out that small, local farmers spend their money in their town. Their product is not tampered with in any way but is simply and purely ‘real’ milk.
So far he has been swamped with offers to adopt-a-cow. Good for him. Full marks for initiative.
The photo is of cows we saw in France. They are the Montbeliarde breed.
22 people like this
23 responses
@moffittjc (122592)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 18
What an innovative idea to help with a less than ideal situation. I hope everything works out well in the end and all the cattle farmers make it through the drought period. Do any of the farmers have the ability to irrigate their fields to ensure that the grass grows during the drought? I know here in Florida farmers are issued permits to pump millions of gallons of water from the underground aquifer to water their land to keep the grass growing in times of drought. It's controversial, but it keeps the farmers in business and keeps the cattle healthy.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122592)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Sep 18
@JudyEv When does your rainy season start for those areas affected most by the drought? I hope the rains come soon to help out the farmers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 18
@moffittjc I had to go searching! It seems the affected areas have hot dry summers and mild winters. I guess that means they get most of their rain in winter (June to August). In the more northern parts they'd get the odd summer thunderstorm which might keep pastures going a bit longer.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
•
6 Sep 18
@JudyEv The nearest I was once to cows was in the eighties, when I was a child. We spent a few days of our holidays on a farm in Norway. On morning the farmers wife brought us fresh milk from their cows. Nothing to do with that one they sell in the supermarkets!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
We owned cows so long ago when my father was alive; but I haven't tried milking a cow! It is a good idea to adopt a cow. Am so sad they ran short of grass or hays to feed them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 18
The climate really seems to be changing and the droughts seem to come more frequently and more intensely.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
5 Sep 18
What a novel and sensible idea-- perhaps you could donate your next batch of stodge- that will definitely help the cows last for awhile too-- Too bad no one has ever asked for stodge. Smart farmers---hahaha!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
7 Sep 18
@JudyEv The cows would love it-- I'm sure, however it may really slow them down. lol!
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Sep 18
That's a very laudable community effort to help the farmers, Ms. Judy. The effect would go back to the community as they would have a steady supply of milk and meat.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Sep 18
@JudyEv Sure you are right, Ms. Judy :)
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (88678)
• Bangalore, India
5 Sep 18
That is a good initiative.I hope many people coem forwrd to support his noble idea. Good luck to them!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (88678)
• Bangalore, India
5 Sep 18
@JudyEv Oh that si not good to hear. Hope things improve.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (224888)
• Chile
5 Sep 18
That´s a witty farmer. And he has found a way to raise the money but also to make people understand what this is about.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
Yes, it is a really clever solution. He seemed a very nice person on the interview.
@BelleStarr (61155)
• United States
5 Sep 18
That is a great idea and this way it doesn't seem like charity, we need to help small farmers survive.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
Cows come in a range of colours but mostly neutral, earthy ones! 
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
It's great isn't it? And apparently the townsfolk have got right behind him.
@andriaperry (118125)
• Anniston, Alabama
5 Sep 18
That is wonderful how the community is pulling together.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345526)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
I haven't heard about fostering out dogs. I know the CWA (Country Women's Association) and other groups were giving out care packages at one time as some of the women had stopped buying any little luxuries at all such as toiletries. .
