Interviews

It seems to be very easy to get information about grey cattle, a lot of people remembers these cattle from before the war and from the time of the beginning of the collective farm’s. At present there are written down memories about grey cattle from 9 counties (22 persons remembering). Some examples of memories of the grey cow:

"I remember grey cattle at Kungla collective farm in Hattu village during the 1970’ies. Then there still was the farm cattle kept in the heard.” Tiina Nurmik. Interview made by Uuno Trepp 1.11.2006.

"Here was still some years ago grey cattle. I remember them well.” Vana-Vigala, Raplamaa, Malle Kivi. Interview made by Ülle Vänto. 24.10.2006.

“I had a grey cow still some years ago. The cow came from Avinurme municipal in Ida-Virumaa. First calf was grey. It got 7 calf’s. I had it during the years 1997-2003. It was a good cow. A lot of people stopped their cars when passing by and asked what kind of a cow it is. The bus driver called it “sour-milk-cow” because it was different”. Astrid Aun 23.10.2006. Interview made by Annika Michelson.

“I remember one grey cow in the middle of 1970 in Pärnumaa, Rannametsa. It was our neighbours cow. I was a child at that time and more cannot I tell but I remember it clearly. 23.10.2006 Madis Arukask. Electronic mail.

"In summer 1946 I was 6 years old and had to go on pasturing with cattle in Tori, Pärnu county. It was the cows of Tori workers. There was cattle days (30 cows) and sheep days. One cow was lilac-grey-white coloured. It was the only one like that in the heard. There were all kind of cattle in the heard. In the morning we had to take the cattle through the village and from each family there came some cattle that joined the heard. It was 2 km to walk to the pasture. There were open pastures and forest pastures" Henn Haas 26.10.2006. Interview made by Annika Michelson.

"I bought the grey cow from an old woman that lived in the forest close to Koeru in the beginning of the 1990ies. This was the only cow that the old woman had. I kept it about 5 years. It was already an old cow when I got it. Once it got a grey calf. The grey cow is good, peaceful and had fat milk. It was middle grey and some times it was like blue or black. The cow went to the slaughter house in 1995. Also its calf went to the slaughter house." Mare Liivaste. 6.11.2006. Interview made by Annika Michelson.