Iowa plush cow: description and description of the breed

From ancient times, cows have been bred for meat or milk, but several years ago, namely in 2011, a cow appeared at the exhibition of farm animals, which was unconditionally recognized as the most beautiful. The animal’s hair was very reminiscent of plush, which is why it was called - a plush cow from Iowa.

In a matter of years, this species of animal has become one of the most popular. In this article you will learn about how a plush cow differs from its relatives and therefore has become so popular, in what conditions it needs to be kept, how to care for an animal and whether it makes sense to have such a pet.

Breed description

In just a few years, plush cows have gained immense popularity both among farmers and among people not related to animal husbandry. Burenki owe their popularity to their appearance - everyone who has seen and touched plush cows will say that the animals resemble huge soft toys, only alive. We learn what other external characteristics these animals possess and where their historical homeland is.

Origin

Iowa, located in the United States, specializes in the development of the agricultural industry, and it was here where the first fluffy ladybug appeared. The copyright for this livestock belongs to Matt Lautner. The farmer presented the world with his huge pet named Texas Tornado, posting it in a photo on one of the Japan forums. Did you know? Despite the fact that plush cows have gained popularity, their breeding is developed exclusively in North America.

A feature of the bull was the presence of wool not only on the head and trunk, but also on the limbs. Interest in breeding a fluffy breed appeared two decades ago, however, breeders for a long time could not achieve success and breed a completely fluffy cow. Farmer Lautner was able to achieve the first visible result by 2011.

When breeding a plush variety, cow breeds such as Angus, Highland and Hereford were used. All of these breeds are meat-type productivity, so we can assume that fluffy cows are also included in the list of meat. However, for the most part, cows are classified as decorative, and it is a pity for owners of furry animals to slaughter animals.

It's not just about the touching appearance of the animals - one such cow can have a cost of $ 5, 000 or more. After the exhibition in 2011, interest in small bulls has increased thousands of times, including among breeders, so work on the thoroughbred of this species continues to this day. Important! Plush cows are not officially registered to this day, so they are more likely to be hybrids and mixed type.

Appearance

You already know that plush bulls for the most part differ from other cattle in their similarity to soft toys. However, this is not their only difference from ordinary cows. Full characteristics of the appearance of animals are presented in the table.

DimensionsAnimals are relatively low - the height at the withers does not exceed 130–135 cm.
The weightThe heifer weighs about 500 kg, the calf weighs about 800 kg.
ColorIt can vary from light brown, milk to brick red, red or black. Stains are possible.
HornsCompletely absent.
UdderUnderdeveloped. A small amount of milk produced by plush cows goes to feed the calf.
BodyMassive, wide, shaped like a rectangle. The sides are inherent in roundness. The cervical region is wide, the head is small. The transition from the scruff to the straight back is smooth, the back of the back is slightly raised. The tail is fluffy; a brush is located at its tip.
LegsStraight, short enough. Reminiscent of woolen columns.
WoolStraight, soft, fluffy, pleasant to the touch.
The absence of horns makes the animal's resemblance to a soft toy even more visible.

Content Features

The peculiarity of a plush cow is that it refers to decorative animals. This means that animals are used exclusively for exhibitions or competitive events, where the external characteristics of the burenka will be evaluated, therefore caring for it requires a lot of effort, time and financial costs. Read about what bulls need for a favorable life and in what conditions they need to live.

Cow lifestyle

Animals literally from head to toe are covered with thick soft hair, which means they can live quietly in cold climates and withstand low temperatures. However, the climate of Iowa is quite mild and warm, and the presence of fluffy fur in no way affects the health of the cows.

Features of the content are careful care for the exterior of the animals. In order for decorative cattle not to lose their value and attractiveness, he needs to arrange water procedures at least once a week. After water procedures, in no case should the coat be allowed to dry naturally.

For drying, it is always necessary to use a specialized hair dryer, otherwise the fur may become dull. Wool care is also carried out using special care products. Professional shampoos, conditioners, balms, masks are used. In addition, styling products are purchased for cows, including mousse, wax, all kinds of oils and gels. Important! After each water treatment, still wet animal coat must be laid. Otherwise, the fur may fall off.

Lautner, as the first known breeder of furry gobies, even created secret wraps that use neoprene. This procedure has a beneficial effect on the quality of the edge - it makes the fur silky, smooth and shiny.

To keep the fur soft and not tangled, forming unpleasant lumps, special combs and nozzles for them are bought for decorative cattle. With their help, you can not only straighten the hair, but also make styling. Walking is also an important part of an animal’s life. Fresh air helps maintain the health of furry gobies.

Food

It would seem that since there is no milk or meat from plush cows, then there is no need to devote much time to feeding them. However, we note that health also affects the overall appearance of both humans and animals. Since the main value of fluffy cows lies in their appearance, it is important to maintain animal health at a high level.

For this reason, it is necessary to ensure that the livestock diet is balanced, contains all the necessary vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. But you should pay tribute - if you happen to try the meat of this variety of cows, it will surprise you with pleasant taste, since a lot of attention is paid to animal nutrition. Did you know? In some cases, the hair of plush cows is dyed to give them a brighter, more saturated color.

Care before the exhibition

During this period, furry gobies of any age category are looked after with special care. Experienced Iowa cow breeders prefer to represent young calves at shows. This is due to the fact that with age, a clearly defined muscular relief appears in animals, but the quality of the coat deteriorates.

Young representatives of the hybrid have a greater resemblance to plush toys, which means they can take a higher position among other participants. Washing the animal during the preparation period can be carried out more often, in particular, before the show itself, the cows must be washed with the help of hair care products. Did you know? People who care for their hair know that the lack of trace elements negatively affects not only the general state of health, but also the appearance of the hairline. The same rule works with an American cow.

In addition, animals can be trimmed so that the hairline remains uniform, does not get confused and looks neater. On the eve of the event, the fur of the cows is thoroughly combed and laid.

Breeding prospects

The high cost and the need to spend a large amount of finance on animal care made it unprofitable for meat products. If you want to receive milk or meat from a cow, then a plush cow definitely does not suit you. However, the lack of productivity did not affect the popularity of the hybrid among breeders. Agricultural communities are happy to acquire these cows, and there is a good reason for this.

Yes, caring for ornamental livestock takes time, effort, financial investment, but all efforts are paid off at exhibitions that are periodically held among the owners of fluffy gobies. Competition winners receive considerable income from the event’s money fund as a prize for their efforts.

Some farms also make money selling meat from Iowa gobies. Due to the careful preparation of the diet, the product has a rich, pleasant taste. At the moment, the slaughter of the hybrid is not officially banned, but the organization for the protection of animal rights has already advocated that the gobies save their lives and use livestock exclusively for decorative purposes.

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