A Cow's Life: The Surprising History of Cattle, and How the Black Angus Came to Be Home on the Range

by M.R. Montgomery, Gerald Foster (Illustrator)

A bovine tour de force Millions of people, from nature lovers to collectors of cow memorabilia, are enamored of cows, yet few have any inkling of the fascinating history of, arguably, the animal most crucial to the survival and advancement of human civilization. Our close relationship with cows goes back eight thousand years, to the revolutionary advent of domestication in Mesopotamia and the Indus River valley. Since then, humans have relied on cows for milk, meat, and muscle. M. R. Montgomery's own keen interest in cows began on his cousin's Montana cattle ranch. He traces their history from the formidable, long-extinct Auroch―the 6,000-pound ancestor of all cattle on Earth―to the ancient cattle roads and drives in England, to the selective mixing practiced by British cattlemen well before Charles Darwin or Gregor Mendel. He charts the origin of breeds and relates the path by which the Aberdeen-Angus has today become the "king of cows." With a sympathetic eye for detail, born of his own experience, he chronicles the day-to-day life of cattle and their keepers― from encouraging good mothering skills to rooting out genetic disease in a herd. After experiencing Montgomery's bovine fascination, even cow lovers will have new appreciation for the objects of their affection.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the wit and the cow stories. There is drama, humor, and significance in cow history, let none deny it. However, the discussions regarding methods of artificial insemination, calving, and breeding of Scottish cow bloodlines demonstrate that cow farming is a truly intellectual challenge.

[Painting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read because I was curious about why I've been seeing so many small groups of Black Angus cattle in my area but it didn't directly satisfy my curiosity regarding this trend where I live. I suppose that popularity of Aberdeen-Angus cattle here is in part due to the disappearance of family-run dairy farms and, according to this book, it is possible that Angus cattle are being bred with other varieties of cattle in the U. S. for the many desired physical characteristics and for genetic vigor. There is also, currently, a nation-wide American promotion of the superior flavor of Angus meat and there certainly is an economic and work load advantage to raising meat cattle as opposed to running a dairy. I was pleasantly amused by sections about cattle raising fads, such as the interest in super-sized and mini cattle and I liked the appendix devoted to urban myths, but beware of the details regarding cattle sex and breeding because there could be way too much information than what you might expect from reading the "All Creatures..." series of books.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many parts of the book that I found interesting, but the writing was somewhat uneven.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. Enjoyable.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

fair, rambling, disjointed at times

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting! There are still things to learn for this old cowgirl.