While crossing the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas this morning, I saw a lone cow standing atop a knoll. She seemed to be enjoying her view of grassy ridges and wooded valleys that stretched off to the south, especially glorious in the bright sunshine.
Though I suspect she chose the spot to evade biting insects in the steady breeze, it is also possible that she was scanning the nutritious grasslands for especially attractive forage. One doubts that she was simply taking in the view..
We humans tend to equate the experience of wildlife and domestic animals with our own and might thus assume that they appreciate beautiful scenery as much as we do; in reality, their behavior is purely in response to instinct, their vital needs and comfort. On the other hand, we know that they, like us, experience stress and pain. It is time to outlaw feedlots!
