Monday 1 September 2008

Abondance Cows





Our neighbours,who are farmers and cheese makers, have a herd of Abondance cows.






This breed originally come from the French Alps, and take their name from the town of Abondance near the Swiss border.


We happened to visit there on a brief holiday to the Alps in August. It was pouring rain that day, but for the dairy farmers out there, you might find these photos and this breed interesting - well known for its hardiness, and its capacity to produce good milk yields and good beef.



Our local herd is currently up the mountains.

They went up for what is known as the 'estive' - mountain summer grazing back at the end of May but will be down and around between 15th and 20th September I think.






ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COPYRIGHT IAN WALTHEW 2008


Ian Walthew

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2 comments:

Lori Skoog said...

Ian...I love the cows!
Lori

Ian said...

I think I love cows full stop actually. I've got to know the Abondance cows pretty well through helping out my mate with a herd of them which he uses for their milk for cheese making (Fourme Fermiere).

They work well with dogs, but don't like newcomers much in the herd.

There's normally a cow piccie or two from my daily life here in the Auvergne, mostly Abondance, Charolais and Salers. All to be regularly found at www.aplaceintheauvergne.blogspot.com

See ya Lori,
Ian