Maybelle

Maybelle was born in 2005 at a large-scale cow breeding farm in Pennsylvania. When she was three years old, she went to live at a historic site in New York where people dress in period costumes showing what 18th century colonial life was like. While living there, Maybelle was impregnated (so that she would lactate) and was put on display to the public for a milking demonstration exhibit. She gave birth to four calves. These calves were taken from Maybelle, and she was not allowed to raise them, a standard practice in the dairy industry. One calf was born premature and did not survive, two calves were sold to farmers, and a third was taken to a petting zoo in Connecticut.

Maybelle (right) and her best friend Kayli (left) enjoying their pasture.

Beautiful Maybelle enjoying a drink of water, in Summer 2020.

After four years, the site’s staff decided to terminate the milking exhibit and reached out to us in an effort to find Maybelle a home. We prepared to welcome Maybelle and we were especially excited for her to meet the other rescued cows. Shortly after she arrived, she could be seen running around the pasture, munching contentedly on hay, and accepting plenty of love from human friends. Maybelle became best friends with a cow named Kayli and the two took on co-parenting roles when we rescued Colin and Woody in 2018. These boys are now grown and sadly, sweet Kayli has passed away, but Maybelle can always be seen near her closest cow friends (especially Mikey), grooming one another, basking in the sun, and roaming their pasture. Maybelle is easily recognized by her beautiful speckles and spots.

Maybelle and young Colin (right) grazing their pasture.