I drove to Windsor to spend the day with my friend Liz!
Windsor is a farming town with a rich history.
It dates back to when the Mi’kmaq people used the land many years before European discovery. The Acadians lived there afterward. The land was a central area of the Expulsion of the Acadians by the British. Later, Windsor claims to be the birthplace of hockey!
Liz’s family moved from Yorkshire, England to Nova Scotia and started a horse farm.
They now live in a beautiful home in Windsor on a hill. It overlooks their property and their barn. Their family of horses resides within! They’ve hummingbird feeders hanging on the wraparound patio. Â I managed to take a picture of one!
Liz and I went to visit her partner, Sam’s family cow farm. Â
His family is from Saint Pierre and Miquelon who moved to Windsor and are generational meat producers in the area.  His cows are farmed to supply meat to local restaurants. Â
My main questions of many was do the cows sense they are going to die? Â Are they scared?
His answer is that a stressed cow has adrenaline in the muscle, which makes the meat tough. A relaxed cow makes more tender meat. Â His cows are not stressed before slaughter. Â
Liz, Sam and I walked through the fields as Sam shared his vast knowledge of cows with me.
What I do remember is how strong the cows are. Both female and male have horns, which are a recessive gene. He does not have guard dogs. The coyotes in the area wouldn’t dare try to attack a weak calf because he has so many cows. The Avalon River borders his many acres of land. Â
He can approach his two bulls, something that is not usually done.
I asked how he is capable of not becoming attached to his cows.
He says he doesn’t name them.
Back at the barn, it looks like Sam is harvesting marshmallows.
These are bails of hay.
S, 🇨🇦
