Former dairy cow got chance to live free

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2023 (936 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ON AUG. 8, 2023, on a sunny summer afternoon, surrounded by family, friends and fellow residents, Serenity was released from her progressive battle with chronic pain. She was 16 years old.

Serenity was born on a dairy farm in Manitoba, to unnamed parents on an unknown day. She was predeceased by her parents, an unknown number of babies, her adopted son Phoenix, and special friends Scotty and Ranger.

In her early days on the farm, Serenity was singled out as a favourite, which would prove pivotal in her life story. Farm life was difficult on her, and throughout the next 13 years of being continuously impregnated, giving birth —likely 10 or more times— and having all her babies and milk taken away, she dealt with much stress and various injuries. She was also smaller than the others on the farm, and likely struggled for food and standing room. She suffered a bad fall, or a few, and fractured her pelvis.

After then being forced to birth one final baby, it was feared that Serenity might fall again and never get back up, and thus be no longer be able to provide milk. Not legally allowed to send her on the grueling transport to slaughter in such condition, the farmer had to make a call. Thankfully for farm-favourite Serenity, that call was to the good folks at The Little Red Barn Sanctuary, for rescue. It was an unheard-of outcome for the Manitoba dairy cow.

After slow and careful transport to the Charleswood area sanctuary on that mild October day, a frail Serenity was ready to start her rare next chapter. With the help of anti-inflammatory treatment for her arthritis, and without the constant task of birthing babies and making milk, Serenity finally experienced reprieve. For the first time in her life, she was finally allowed to live freely as a cow, and to be cared for without expectation.

But Serenity’s motherly instincts never took a break. The natural nurturer quickly became the matriarch of the sanctuary. The other residents looked up to her. And as new vulnerable babies arrived at the sanctuary, she adopted them as her own: first, six-month-old Ellie, a surrendered miniature Hereford, then young Phoenix, a too-tiny Angus, and sweet Sasha, a sheep saved from being meat.

Serenity also made many friends at the sanctuary, in particular fellow dairy industry survivor Daisy, and egg industry survivor, Henny Penny, both of whom stayed close by in the end.

She leaves to mourn her sanctuary friends, along with her human carers, the Walker family, and the various volunteers and veterinarians who filled her three years of freedom with love, care and respect.

All who knew Serenity will ultimately remember her as a mother, devoted to showing love for all the babies she never knew by taking on others in need, without condition. At The Little Red Barn, Serenity reached 16 years of age, making her perhaps the oldest Jersey cow in Manitoba. The natural life span of dairy cows is around 20 years, but most are killed for low grade meat around 6 years, when they are no longer able to keep up with the demands of dairy production.

In the end, Serenity made good on her name, finding sweet peace as she passed, with the help of her vet, in a soft bed of straw and absolutely awash with love — a serene end tragically so unknown to the vast majority of her kind.

A private internment was held, followed by a spontaneous procession of animals, who each took their turn paying their respects and saying goodbye. “Their reaction is exactly like ours,” notes sanctuary owner Colleen Walker. “They grieve.” And Daisy, she adds, has not been the same since.

In leu of flowers, donations can be made to The Little Red Barn Sanctuary. The friends and family of Serenity wish to thank all those who treat all animals as friends, not food.

Jessica Scott-Reid is a Winnipeg freelance journalist and animal advocate.