Our cow got a friend.
Our cow got a friend.
Maali is excited as she finally has a friend at GlenMyu Estate to accompany her as she grazes at the 5 acre estate.
Read on to find out how this came about.
If you want to read about how Maali arrived at GlenMyu Estate please read our articles “We got a Cow” and also “The Cow, a year on (almost)”.
Dogs and ducks as friends and playmates?
Maali was a little confused. She cleary was lonely and decided that her playmates were the dogs, ducks and chickens.Â
Maali would graze for the morning until mid afternoon and then we would let her free to room and forage.
So cute, but such bad behaviour.
Maali settled into GlenMyu Estate quite quickly. She was let free on the estate to forage and eat what she liked. Life is a learning curve and we realised that we would have to tie Maali to one spot for a few hours to concentrate on feeding in one area. She had a tendency to flit from one place to the other. Sometimes she would come bounding towards us when we were working on the land. It was funny, but sometimes scary and dangerous.Â
When we started to take her to forage in one part of the land she was quite stubborn and wouldn’t move. I used to play rugby in the front row so there was often a tug of war to get her to move to where we wanted her to go. Luckily I still have a bit ion technique and she hasn’t neaten me yet!
When Maali was released in the early afternoon she would run around like a crazy cow. The puppies would run after her and she would try to butt them with her small horns. This was the same for any ducks or chickens that she came across. We think that this was play rather than anger as she appeared to seek them out when she was loose.Â
She would bound around the land running more like a cheetah rather than a cow.
Although this did provide some entertainment, I was worried that she would create an accident either to her playmates or herself.
There needed to be a change at GlenMyu Estate.Â
A little bit of research - Our cow needed a friend.
We did a little bit of research and found that when cows are alone they sometimes develop bad behaviour. They are herd animals and really should be with other cows.Â
According to Farm House Guide “The truth is that cows are herd animals, and they need friends to help keep them happy and safe”.
We had known for some time that Maali really needed a friend.
So spoilt!
Doesn’t the first one always get spoilt? Maali was certainly spoilt and given a lot a leeway at GlenMyu Estate.Â
Here she is waiting near the outside kitchen for a snack.Â
An opportunity arises for our cow to get a friend.
One of our neighbours has cows which are used to supply milk. One of his cows had a bull calf. His mother had been sick when he was born an he was not fully weaned on his mothers milk. This left him with a pot belly which is normal in these circumstances.
Another neighbour had told us that the owner of the bull calf was looking to sell him.
We asked him to get in contact with us.
After a discussion with the owner and the vet, Ru asked the bull calf to be brought along to meet Maali and see whether they would get along with each other.
What was the alternative for the infant calf?
Unfortunately, if we did not buy the calf, he would have been sent to the butcher. This is the normal outcome for these animals in Sri Lanka.
Ru met the calf when he was brought to the land to see whether Maali would accept him.
Both Maali and Ru made a connection straight away and there was only one choice.
He was going to have a new home at GlenMyu Estate.
We try to do our bit.
Unfortunately, we cannot save all the animals we would like to from the fate that this calf would have met.
We have limited space at GlenMyu Estate to allocate to the animals and being on a hill limits our capacity.
However, at least this animal will have a good life ahead of him.
No room at the inn?
We did not plan to have a second cow.
In early 2023 we had constructed a new home for Maali where she was now settled. We had not planned for two animals and there was “no room at the inn’ so to speak.
Therefore, we had to identify a suitable site for a home for two.
A big move and a some investment.
The land at GlenMyu Estate is bisected by a stream that runs through the middle of the land.
The stream runs alongside the swimming pool and forms a natural barrier for each side.
Maaili did some major damage to our flowers and other plants that she found tasty. We used to have a beautiful array of flowers alongside the lawn in front of the house.
Maali used these flowers as a buffet when she wanted some variety from the grass she normally eats. This has left our flowerbeds devastated and not looking very attractive!Â
The site is identified.
We decided that we would site the two cows in a new spot across the river. A gate would be placed at one side of the stream to protect the plants we have nearer the house.
This would result in the cows being focussed on one side of the land where we would be happy for them to forage.
More work to make a new home for our cow and her new friend.
The arrival of the prodigal son.
Here are some videos we took of the big moment when Maali met her new friend.
Maali was not aware re at first but in the end she looks very happy.
Happy together -Our cow got a friend.
You can see from this photo that Maali is making her acquaintance with her new friends.Â
The start looks good, let’s se if it continues and they become good friends and companions.
Our hopes for the future for our cow and her new friend.
Our aim is to provide both Maali and her new friend a good, safe life at GlenMyu Estate.
In exchange we expect lots of manure to put on our organic garden.
How can you help?
Income we generate from guests staying at GlenMyu Estate when they are on holiday in Sri Lanka is the way we fund the costs to run the property.
By choosing GlenMyu Estate you will support what we do.
You will also have a great experience when you stay and explore the fantastic sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.
Your spend with us help fund the following:
Maali, our cow and her friend.
The cost of feeding and providing medication for our rescue dogs.
Stay at GlenMyu Estate, meet our animals and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country
A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.
We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.
The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,
GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.
