The Secret Life of Cows

April 9, 2018
Reflecting on over 30 years as a cattle farmer in Worcestershire, England, Young muses on her herd members’ inner lives and shares best practices for keeping them happy and healthy in her appealing, if somewhat disorganized, book. Her contention that “every animal has a limitless ability to experience a whole range of emotions” is demonstrated through anecdotes of her cows engaging in familial love and bonding, play, and even grief. These include a touching story about a young cow seeking out her mother for comfort after giving birth to a stillborn calf; a mother who held a grudge against Young for three years for taking away her sick calf; and a mischievous cow that amused herself by removing the same workman’s cap every time she saw him. Young also makes a case for the species’ intelligence, as evinced in their ability to make healthy eating choices. Her prose is contemplative and idyllic, featuring charming phrases like “Every old hedge has a story to tell” and folksy section titles like “A little bit about horses” and “A digression on sheep, and pigs and hens.” Although the book’s loose-knit structure can cause it to read more like a series of journal entries than a polished text, Young’s assertion that “all animals are individuals” is certainly supported by these entertaining and tender stories.

Rosamund Young relates funny and sweet vignettes about the cows and other livestock living at Kite's Nest Farm in England. The gentle and meandering style of this audiobook is charming and also provides evidence against factory farming. Young's tone, along with her Worcestershire accent, suggests warmth and practicality. One cow plays hide-and-seek with her on the way to milking; another whips the hat off a farmhand (only that hat, on that worker). Without feeling the need to convince or cajole the listener, Young is matter-of-fact when she states that the cows talk to her--to convey thanks for assistance, pleasure in being brushed, or to ask to be left alone. Young describes distinctive personalities, intelligence, and emotional connections that contradict any notions that farm animals might be stupid or unaware. A.B. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine