Heidi, Daisy and Ellen-Rae are toted as Australia's only performing circus cows (NT Country Hour)
from: farmingahead.com.au
02 July 2013
When you think of circus animals, you think lions, tigers and elephants, but the Top End is currently hosting a Big Top that claims to have Australia's only performing cows... yes cows!
Circus Royale ringmaster Damian Syred says Daisy, Heidi and Ellen-Rae are very intelligent and that in general people don't give cows the credit they deserve.
"They're pretty quick to learn, they took just on six months to learn the act, along with lots of bags of carrots. People call cows dumb animals whereas I think they're far from it."
Daisy and Heidi are from the same farm and have been with the show for more than eight years, but Ellen-Rae is a new recruit.
"We picked her up in Western Australia. A farmer was going past on his way to the abattoir with her.
"She was sort of one of their family pets, so he really didn't want to part with her. He said if we could fork out the same as the abattoir, then she was ours.
"He said she was good at being hand-led and would come when called, but he failed to mention that she's a very good fence jumper!"
Damian believes the cows do enjoy performing and says they are often so keen to enter the ring that they'll crash the preceding geese act in their pursuit of the limelight.
"They get bells around their necks and a nice wash before they go in."
Watch out for your popcorn if you sit in the front row though, it's their favourite snack!
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