Cow Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the second Tuesday of July (July 11) and was created by Chick-fil-A. There are more reasons than free Chick-fil-A in July to celebrate cows, but a free chicken sandwich isn’t a poor perk! Cow Appreciation Day has been postponed until 2022, but you and your family can still enjoy cow-themed activities together.
The background of Cow Appreciation Day
Cow Appreciation Day was first celebrated in 2004 in response to Chick-fil-A’s “Eat More Chicken” marketing campaign, which began in 1995. The premise of the campaign is that cows want humans to consume more poultry rather than beef. While cows produce extremely delectable byproducts such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream, we consume significantly more beef than dairy products. Although beef can be extremely rich in vitamins and minerals and is healthy to consume in moderation, there is an appreciation for the animals that we frequently neglect.
Cows’ milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years. After the invention of pasteurisation, modern dairy production began in the early 1900s. Approximately 90% of certain ethnic groups, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics, are currently unable to metabolise lactose. So why are we still consuming milk? To begin with, it is delectable and frequently a key ingredient in numerous recipes. However, milk alternatives have gained popularity and momentum among adults worldwide in recent years. Leading health organisations continue to acknowledge the nutritional benefits of milk for infants and recommend natural dairy milk over plant-based milk only for adults.
Lactose issues aside, cows have given us a great deal for which to be thankful over the past thousand years or more. According to the ASPCA, numerous cows and other farm animals are treated inhumanely on factory farms. This is not required to be the case. Family farms and homesteads are managed differently than “factory farms” with 500 or more cattle. Supporting these small-scale farms, which are most likely owned by families rather than corporations, strengthens local economies and ensures that cows receive the care and consideration they deserve.
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COW APPRECIATION DAY ACTIVITIES
Kiss a bovine
If you are fortunate enough to own cows or to reside near a cattle farm, visit your local cattle friends (but don’t hug a cow without the owner’s permission). Check if you reside near a farm animal sanctuary if you do not live near a cattle farm.
Recognise a dairy farmer
Thank a local dairy farmer in person, or support them by purchasing their milk and dairy products.
Cow costumes are encouraged at Chick-fil-A.
If you attend their restaurant while dressed as a cow, most Chick-fil-A locations will provide a free meal.
5 FACTS REGARDING COWS
They are extremely social and emotional animals that form strong bonds with their friends and family, particularly between a mother and her calf, both of which will exhibit extreme distress if separated.
A recent study has concluded that healthier cattle produce more nutritious milk with higher calcium content.
Cows don’t have four stomachs, but their stomachs have four chambers. The rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum chambers help them assimilate tough grass by breaking it down.
Due to Hinduism’s beliefs, you will see cows roaming the streets of India, as they are revered, but you won’t find any hamburgers, as eating cow flesh is considered sinful.
Cows are believed to retain nearly all memories. They also possess a superior spatial memory.
COW APPRECIATION DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | July 13 | Tuesday |
| 2022 | July 12 | Tuesday |
| 2023 | July 11 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | July 9 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 8 | Tuesday |
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