Spotted Cow Became Major Local Attraction

Spotted Cow Became Major Local Attraction AG WORLD Ag World 17-2-18 "No cow in the world ever had more pictures taken of her," says Vic Steffes, St. Joe, Wis., about his 18-year-old spotted cow 'Pepper" which for years has been a major local attraction. "After our daughter Lisa came home one day, she came running into the house and said I had to come and see the calf that had been born," says Steffes. The heifer calf was raised and treated like the rest of Steffe's herd. After five lactations and several unsuccessful attempts to get her pregnant, the cow simply became a pet in the herd. Her last lactation lasted 500 days, and then she was turned out to pasture to enjoy retirement. During the cold Wisconsin winters, Pep-per was kept in a box stall in the barn where her everyday needs were met. Farmers from all over the region and from around the country would frequently stop in to see the unusually colored cow. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Pepper developed arthritis recently and other frailties that come with old age. The Steffes family finally had to put their uniquely marked pet to sleep: The owner of a local meat market took Pepper to his shop to be butchered, being careful to skin the animal so that the hide could be used as a wall hanging in the Steffes' lake cottage. The meat was ground into ham-burger. "It was hard to put her to sleep, but what can you do?" says Vic. "It was just a coincidence that she was born with those markings. We tried using all different kinds of bulls to breed for them, but nothing ever happened." (Reprinted with permission from Wisconsin State Farmer)

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