A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America's 52 Breeds

I got this lightly entertaining, packed fact chock-full, irreverent little book as a gift from my mother-in-law. Yes, a woman from Southwest Oregon, raised in cattle country on a huge ranch that had been in the family for generations. This was a sympathy gift for me, when playing family trivia pursuit, I responded with surprise when a "Holstein" came out as the answer to a question. First there were blank stares in my direction from around the table, and then came surprise, disbelief, and finally the boisterous and gratuitous laughter, all generated by my unknowledge of the wonderful Holstein. I could see it in their eyes...my esteem took a whack downwards that day in their bovine-wise eyes. The scandal and shame of it, with me being from Texas and all. Now I know a Holstein is a dairy cow with spots. I'm armed and semi-dangerous with this funny book. Did you know that a Piedmont has a big, big beefy butt? A Cow can detect odors up to five miles away (they must despise being a cow then with the way they smell)? How about how many stomachs a cow has? A: 4. You would know all this if you had this book. I wouldn't call this book essential or anything quite that elevated, but it is truly fun. If you get laughed at for not knowing a Guernsey from a Galloway, you might want to get this book. I used to hate cows when I saw what they did to the land, whilst hiking in Idaho. Now that I have the book, I don't hate them quite as much.

I love cows. Whenever life takes a turn for the worse, I soothe myself by driving out to the country to watch our bovine friends. I wish I could share my life with a cow, but my 5,000 square foot lot makes it impossible. So, when I can't visit Bossie, I reach over to my beside table, pick up A Field Guide to Cows and immerse myself in bovine dreams. Calmed, contented and amused, I can drift into peaceful sleep. Better than a drive to Vermont!

This indispensable, versatile, and fascinating guide to America's 52 breeds of cattle is a must in the book collection of any cow lover. Anyone who loves cows will certainly be a-moosed with this a-moosing book. good to have standing by when you drive through Lancaster.

After reading all those reviews about people who have this book and saying how great it is, I finally have it and I must admit they are all absolutely right. Not only is this indispenseble companion fascinating, but it is also hillarious.

This book has a light-hearted feel to it - and why not ? Cows are a bit hard to take seriously ! But 'A Field Guide to Cows' is not an attempt to poke fun AT cows, it is a fun , very readable summary of all the major types of cows, suitable for both beginners and experienced cow farmers. The non-serious nature of the book means you are more likely to keep re-reading it and learn more than you would from a boring serious book. I lent a copy of this to a cow farmer who normally doesn't enjoy books, and he loved it ! Cows Rule , OK?