I think this is a great topic for the holiday season especially as we are half way through and everyone’s pants are fitting a bit more snug after Thanksgiving.
But, I actually want to talk about fat on cattle.
A pretty common question I get asked when people visit our farm, or even our home, is about whether our cattle are cold.
Which is a really good question, because it’s so cold here in South Dakota that we are constantly focused on keeping animals warm and in good health in order to ensure they make it through the winter season without getting sick.
So, I decided to do a little experiment to show how warm our cattle really are- even when it’s cold out there, they can actually be quite comfortable.
It’s all about fat. And the fact that they have a pretty thick hide.
I filled a metal bowl as full as it would go with ice and then on top of that I ran ice cold water. I set the bowl on the counter for a little bit to get nice and cold.
And then I asked my oh so willing babysitter to stick her hand in there and see how long she could keep it in the ice cold water.
Not long at all, maybe 30 seconds top. And then I tried, and it was so cold I made it in even less time.
Then I brought out this huge tub of lard. And explained how I was going to coat my babysitter’s hand in the lard and ask her to put her hand back in.
She is so trusting! And so willing!
At first I did a thin layer of lard and it didn’t do anything. Then I really coated her up.
She held her hand in the water for at least ten minutes, and could have gone even longer, but we were getting bored just sitting there watching her hand in ice water.
Her hand wasn’t even cold, not even a little bit. I didn’t believe her of course, so I had to try it myself.
And she was right, no matter how long our hands were in the ice water as long as they were covered in the lard completely, nice and thick, our hands felt toasty like they were in a warm mitten.
This is a perfect demonstration of animals that live outside within the elements. Animals tend to grow a winter coat in preparation for the cold winter months, and tend to fatten themselves up.
The extra fur and the extra fat keep an animal pretty warm, even when it’s too cold for us outside.
Ok, this was really interesting!
Thanks! 🙂
Cool !
Thank you!
Neat. I may try this with a 5th grader I mentor in the SIoux Falls School system or his whole class of the teacher will permit.
I think this would be great for a 5th grader! I think younger kids would really get a kick out of it. Let me know how it goes- I would love to hear what they thought!
Very interesting! Glad to know that animals can do that. I also didn’t know that when I use Crisco, I’m filling my veins with lard. Thank you!
Ha! Yes, however, I am hoping you don’t sit down and consume an entire tub of Crisco. I am pretty sure that would tear a part your stomach! Hehe