I've once spent a summer herding cows in Switzerland. Mostly bringing the to and from pastures in de morning and evening. I've had farm animals and pets most of

I've once spent a summer herding cows in Switzerland. Mostly bringing the to and from pastures in de morning and evening. I've had farm animals and pets most of my life, but here I learned something new. I quickly learned that cows have personality. Multidimensional. E.g. one (older one) was mischievous but also ver sweet. Another one mischievous and aloof. One was lazy and easily frightened. It was one herd and I presume they were well adjusted to another until I came along and ruined their balance. It took us about a week to get used to another. Moenie,the bull, challenged me twice and had to stay home even, I could not assert dominance. Cows, I learned, are complex, deep, and above all very sweet animals. Needles to say that it strenghtened my vegetarianism. When media and people make me think of animals as production units I think back at this herd I got to know some 27 years ago and realize that no: they are not ever "units of production"