Carol and I climbed into the car with Jean Marie to drive to the farm where the cow was being purchased. We picked up our farm manager Eugene along the way. It wasn't long until we turned off the paved road onto a dirt road that was graded and then a bit further, it was not graded and was rather rough. The roads got progressively more challenging until it was like the roads on my farm at home.
We met the farmer, Vincent, and our new cow. She is a black and white 2 year old Holstein with one calf. She was docile and well cared for. She followed the farmer out to the gate, readily accepted a rope around her neck and was led out to the waiting truck. I was very impressed with how gentle and patient everyone was with her from the farmer to the crew on the truck.
She was loaded onto the truck with no major complications. Because there was no gate in the middle of the truck to help contain her, they made the gate with two small logs from a tree they cut down and trimmed. They also used rubber straps and lengths of rope. Once it was secure, one of the men climbed into the truck with her and rode with her all the way to Urukundo. The rutted road down from the farm was the first challenge, but she managed it without becoming frightened or trying to get out.
I have seen a lot of people handle cattle through the years and this was one of the gentlest that I had ever seen. I knew that cattle were important in Rwanda. I understand what that really means by how they treat their animals.
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