Recently, I wrote about my procrastination methods while trying to complete my accreditation modules. Yippee, I got it done! Nothing nixes procrastination like a 24 hour deadline. One way I was procrastinating during the process was to research ideas for my blog (aka, scroll on Facebook and surf the web, then accidentally come across something I could write a blog about). While I was “researching” I saw something exciting: June 10th is National Black Cow Day. I can write about that! I know lots about black cows. As a matter of fact, I had just treated a feisty Angus a few minutes before this amazing find. What a coincidence! I thought, “I’ll get my revenge on that little turd and write about how black cows aren’t as fantastic as a national holiday tries to make them out to be.” But as I continued reading about this holiday, I realized that it wasn’t actually about a literal black cow. A Black Cow is another name for a root beer float. Maybe you all knew this and I sound a little silly, but I did not know this at all. Is this a regional thing like soda, pop, or soda pop? Since this was important research, I continued searching for the origins of this tasty treat because this was important! I needed to find the answers before I could possibly work on my accreditation modules. According to the website Pop Sugar, and the author PartySugar, very, very reliable sources, the Black Cow is an American classic, dating back to the late 1800’s. According to PartySugar (I wish my name was PartySugar), the origins of the Black Cow are as follows: “Root beer was manufactured, bottled, and sold starting in 1880, and legend has it that thirteen years later, the root beer float, which is sometimes referred to as a black cow, was first invented. After glancing out the window late one night, Frank Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, was inspired to float a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of his glass of root beer. The illumination of the full moon allowed him to glimpse the snow on top of nearby Cow Mountain. The tasty treat was tremendously popular among the town's children, who then called it a "black cow."” I had to know more. Honestly, it was making me hungry, and you just can’t complete an accreditation module on an empty stomach, so I continued on to the source where every serious intellect goes for information: Wikipedia. Wikipedia further blew my mind because it then listed multiple other black cows, but not an Angus. It included the root beer float and a song by Steely Dan, which I then listened to on Youtube. This is research people, and it must be done! Man, there were some bitter people in the comments section that loved this song but hated their exes. Wikipedia also mentioned that it was a name for a chocolate candy and an alcoholic drink, which piqued my interest. It is made with Kahlua, half-and-half, and Coca-Cola, which are all three on my grocery list now. Spike Lee once said, “You have to do the research. If you don't know about something, then you ask the right people who do.” Wikipedia knew exactly what I was looking for. Not answers to anything important but a recipe for a happy hour drink. It’s National Black Cow Day, so celebrate, by having a root beer float, an alcoholic drink, or some candy, while you’re jamming out to Steely Dan. Since I originally started this research to write about black cows, I’ll list a few things I appreciate about Angus cows: Most Angus cattle today can be traced back to two original ancestors from the 1800s, owned by Hugh Watson. They have an unusually strong reputation, with their beef being considered superior. The Angus Association has done an excellent job at marketing their cattle and their beef. Is Angus beef actually superior to beef from other breeds of cattle? Not necessarily. To really know how good your steak is going to taste, you should focus on beef quality grades of that meat. However, a lot of my producers are Angus breeders, so the fact that fast food chains see “100 percent Angus” as an advantage is a benefit to my producers and clients. Angus dams are known to have excellent mothering abilities. In regions where predators may attack or dangerous situations may arise, this is an asset. I don’t really consider it an asset when those protective dams chase me out of the field, but that’s besides the point. Angus cows have high fertility rates, with calving (usually) being a smooth process. Angus cattle have a reputation for finishing sooner compared to cattle of the same build, which is great for producers that want to produce beef over a short, intense period of time. Angus cattle and Angus crosses thrive on forage-based production systems. Their carcasses often have a good ratio of lean meat against waste. The meat often has good marbling making for tender steaks. They don’t have horns unless they’re crossed with a horned breed, and I hate dehorning. One thing I’ve observed about Angus cows is that they are notorious for getting on their “knees” on their front legs during preg checking. This is pretty annoying, actually. But I can appreciate their religious dedication. Since it is a black cow holiday, however you decide to interpret it, it’s also Sunday, and I’m on call, so please don’t bother your black Angus with fun selfies that might increase anxiety and stress, causing a difficult calving because calving season has already stretched out too long, and I’m up to my shoulders in dystocia calls. Just in case that selfie is too tempting, I’ll stick to root beer floats to be ready for your call. Happy National Black Cow Day!
1 Comment
John Flaspohler
6/10/2018 02:48:52 pm
Another gem.
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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