Why do Thais keep cows?

[Costas2008]

In the village, I live, in Issan, and the surrounding villages, nearly every house has got cows.

Some of them have 2, 3, 4 or more.

Every morning, I see the owners taking them for walks in the fields, and bring them back at about 3:00 in the evening.

I do understand that, you keep cows, for a certain purpose.

But, these cows are not for milking or slaughtering for food either.

I do understand that these people had buffalo’s before, because they were using them to plough their rice fields.

Nowadays they are using the machines, so no need for them anymore.

I am amazed, with the effort and the expense they put for them.

They have to clean their space all the time, they have to buy food for them, and they have the vet’s expenses as they often go sick.

Plus they have the expense, of bringing the bull once a year, on the pickup to have a short party with the cows.

That costs 500Baht a time. (Lucky for the bulls, unfair for us that we have to pay for this sort of partying)

And what do they get back? Nothing.

Saying that, there are some cow breeds, that they are kept as show animals and can fetch a lot of money.

I have asked, many people before, but never got a satisfactory answer to my question.

Personally, I think, it’s a sign of wealth, and face, between the village people, nothing to do of any use of those animals.

What is your opinion, on the subject?

Of course, this thread, does not apply to people living in the big cities as I don’t think Thais keep cows in their condos.

Your input will be appreciated.

[ATF]

Mr. Costas sorry to upset another thread devoted to milking but the cows are for eating. They sell them for slaughter.

You need to go around Khao Yai plenty of milking cows there.

Edited August 16, 2014 by ATF

[mrtoad]

You are obsessed with milking!!!

[buhi]

Around here they keep badgers, more compact. hey used to milk them, but now you can get milk at 7/11.

Don't know where 7/11 get milk from; have never seen a badger in there.

Others walk or carry tiny dogs that look like overgrown rats, even have baby carriers for them, that is definitely a status thing.

Even more ubiquitous is the Benz, a sure sign of superiority, but cows?

Why indeed?

Edited August 16, 2014 by buhi

[Costas2008]

Mr. Costas sorry to upset another thread devoted to milking but the cows are for eating. They sell them for slaughter.

You need to go around Khao Yai plenty of milking cows there.

Not where, I live.

The same cows have been there for years.

Beef is not widely available, except in 3 or 4 outlets, that I wouldn't dare to buy from as the flies are all over them.

They are not for slaughtering.

[CharlieH]

The cows I see in my rural area are not for slaughter either, you can generally see there ribs, no meat on that type of breed. I asked the wife about them and she didnt know either, she said they just breed and sell them.Make little ones, grow them, sell, make more. I couldnt get to the bottom of 'why" either.

[Costas2008]

Around here they keep badgers, more compact. hey used to milk them, but now you can get milk at 7/11.

Don't know where 7/11 get milk from; have never seen a badger in there.

Others walk or carry tiny dogs that look like overgrown rats, even have baby carriers for them, that is definitely a status thing.

Even more ubiquitous is the Benz, a sure sign of superiority, but cows?

Why indeed?

We are not Amused.

[cooked]

Pay a guy to bring his bull to impregnate the cow. Sell the calf after a year or so, it's an income. The Muslims do the slaughtering and you have to get to the slaughter houses very early if you want to buy. The meat is only good for hamburgers. We don't buy feed, supplements or pay for vets. The fact that there are flies around means that the meat hasn't been treated with formaldehyde.

[CharlieH]

You are obsessed with milking!!!

Costas at work....

[ATF]

Mr. Costas sorry to upset another thread devoted to milking but the cows are for eating. They sell them for slaughter.

You need to go around Khao Yai plenty of milking cows there.

Not where, I live.

The same cows have been there for years.

Beef is not widely available, except in 3 or 4 outlets, that I wouldn't dare to buy from as the flies are all over them.

They are not for slaughtering.

I'm sure one of our farming friends will give a more accurate explanation but my understanding is they have breeding stock and they sell some calves.

[mrtoad]

Around here they keep badgers, more compact. hey used to milk them, but now you can get milk at 7/11.

Don't know where 7/11 get milk from; have never seen a badger in there.

Others walk or carry tiny dogs that look like overgrown rats, even have baby carriers for them, that is definitely a status thing.

Even more ubiquitous is the Benz, a sure sign of superiority, but cows?

Why indeed?

We are not Amused.

We are though!!

[ATF]

Pay a guy to bring his bull to impregnate the cow. Sell the calf after a year or so, it's an income. The Muslims do the slaughtering and you have to get to the slaughter houses very early if you want to buy. The meat is only good for hamburgers. We don't buy feed, supplements or pay for vets. The fact that there are flies around means that the meat hasn't been treated with formaldehyde.

There you go Mr. Costas flies good no flies bad.

[neverdie]

I knew a lady, she went to a temple and spoke with 'a monk' who told her to buy 3 cows and keep them at home, for lucky.

She did that and the bloody things roam our soi, getting into this and that and all I can do is chase them away and collect their crap for my garden......things are into everything.....they hate my straw broom.

They have been there years.

If I ever meet that monk

[mrtoad]

Costas how about goats?

http://www.rense.com/general19/gaygoat.htm

Edited August 16, 2014 by mrtoad

[DP25]

They keep cows because they've always kept cows, and that's what they think they should do. They can sell them so they can get a small income, but it really isn't worth the effort at all. Traditionally they were a sign of wealth and prosperity. So some just do it because their parents did it back when they were valuable because they were needed to plow the fields. Most people don't keep them anymore though, the number of buffalo in Thailand is a lot less than it was 30 years ago when they were actually useful.

[Costas2008]

Mr Charlie, please stop confusing me with the change of your avatars.

I know, you do it for my pleasure, as they are all mammals, except that Inspector Clouseau, but as my good doctor has cured me with my milking obsession, please do settle down.

Can't take any more......................toooooooooo tempting for me.

[neverdie]

Costas, he's a cuntry boy !

God love him.

"Doin it Greek style in Issan"

It should be a TV documentary......just sayin

Edited August 16, 2014 by neverdie

[Lite Beer]

Bloke opposite us used to take his cows walkies every day.

He must have saved up some money as he recently built a cow shed and they stay there all the time now.

He spends all day with them taking care of them.

Leading them around, putting them to bed and bringing grass for them every day.

Are cows really that stupid?

He also started lighting very smokey fires all day long.

It got to the stage where I could not sit outside and had to stay indoors all day with the doors and windows closed.

The smoke was terrible.

He claimed it was for killing mosquitos.

My Wife got so fed up with me moaning that she went and had a word with the Phu Yai Baan

Since then the fires only appear after 6pm.

Still bad but better than it was.

Maybe he was into selling smoked beef.

Again my Wife does not know why they have cows apart from selling the one they rear.

[Vacuum]

and they have the vet’s expenses as they often go sick

Those bills are often paid by farangs.

[ATF]

Mr. Costas what do you think of Thai Olives? Ma-Gork in Thai.

[Seastallion]

Inspector Cleuseau is a mammal too. As are you Costas.

[neverdie]

You are obsessed with milking!!!

Costas at work....

images (26).jpg

I was going to put a picture of Costas in the position he takes behind the cow, when he thinks the cameras are gone......but I'm not sure it's fit for this 'time slot'. 5555555

[Costas2008]

Costas, he's a cuntry boy !

God love him.

"Doin it Greek style in Issan"

It should be a TV documentary......just sayin

55555555555555 What did you call me?

[mrtoad]

Costas is getting all excited now

[buhi]

They keep cows because they've always kept cows, and that's what they think they should do. They can sell them so they can get a small income, but it really isn't worth the effort at all. Traditionally they were a sign of wealth and prosperity. So some just do it because their parents did it back when they were valuable because they were needed to plow the fields. Most people don't keep them anymore though, the number of buffalo in Thailand is a lot less than it was 30 years ago when they were actually useful.

A guess and serious this time, are they used as dowery or trade as written above.

If they were once a sign of wealth, status, likely.

People do keep all sorts of things as pets and dogs can be a very visible sign of status in the West; pedigree that is.

[The Deerhunter]

Mr. Costas what do you think of Thai Olives? Ma-Gork in Thai.

Olive milk! Yay!!!!!

[neverdie]

Costas, he's a cuntry boy !

God love him.

"Doin it Greek style in Issan"

It should be a TV documentary......just sayin

55555555555555 What did you call me?

1. Sir Costas.

2. Badger Milker

3. Rodent specialist

4. Greek wonder

5. Cuntry boy

6. Shagger

7. Handsome

8. Big fella

9. 5 fingered shuffler.

10. A dude.

Should I go on?

[David48]

ND ... we aren't showing the OP enough respect. Wandering a bit Off-Topic and the like. Come pull up a Bar Stool here ... much-ado-about-nothing http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/752276-much-ado-about-nothing/

That is, once you have finished milking this subject for what it's worth ...

[David48]

BTW ... would you like a lesson in Cattle?

I had to study them ...

[CharlieH]

ND, No, please dont, I get nervous!