One of the most popular places to be at the Ekka is the cattle pavillion. The huge bulls attract the most attention – with good reason – they are impressive!
a very big bull
Like the chooks, these animals come in all colours and sizes (perhaps not quite as many colours as the chooks).
there are shiny almost black ones
and happy brown ones
gorgeous grey ones
grey ones with little faces
the sahiwals are actually pretty
big white ones
a Piedmontese - trust the Italian one to be wearing a coat and quite possible eye make up as well
I think this one is pretty too
this Murray Grey with his owner is only 2 and weighs around 1,100 kilos
the Murray Greys have lovely faces
a brindle and a white
some have beautiful tails
some have long eyelashes
Baby animals are always cute and baby cattle are no exception.
cute baby with its smiling mum
how lovely
so cute
These huge animals are remarkably placid. The Murray Grey man told me that the animals are accustomed to noise, people and boisterous children. It would be in nobody’s interest to bring cantankerous animals to the Ekka.
city kids get to pat a bull
even very young children help out with the animals
Mostly they just lie around or eat, or even both at the same time.
worn out after a hard morning
totally relaxed
I heard a little girl say to her father “Daddy these cows are all tired”. I guess all they are expected to do is eat and grow.
rump steaks all in a row
The only one I saw even slighty miffed was this final one who was having his photo taken. He wasn’t at all impressed with being asked to pose.
hard at work looking handsome
How precious, Debra! The calves are especially darling! Another great post–more fabulous photos!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on August 15, 2011
at 11:02 am
They are great big beautiful animals. I think it is great that they come to town every year.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 11:19 am
Is this the famous black Angus???
By: Ilario Cassai Del Sonno on August 15, 2011
at 11:19 am
I’m not sure what the big black one was. He is a handsome fellow.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 11:54 am
That’s a lot of Bull. 🙂
By: Jennifer Avventura on August 15, 2011
at 12:07 pm
We grow them big here in Australia.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 12:10 pm
Nose jewelry, long eyelashes, what’s not to love.
By: Roz on August 15, 2011
at 12:37 pm
Those lashes are amazing!
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:00 pm
Great photos – I love the happy brown ones 🙂
By: sheof108names on August 15, 2011
at 2:05 pm
They are gorgeous aren’t they?
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:00 pm
Such beautiful big beasts, I grew up with sheep mostly, cattle were more up North, perhaps that was a climate thing? Love the jewellery, and the babies. 🙂
By: Anna Johnston on August 15, 2011
at 2:39 pm
They are so placid for such big animals.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:02 pm
i really liked the smiling cow. very cool picturs Debra. it started my Monday off with a smile. thanks.
By: Anonymous on August 15, 2011
at 2:40 pm
He was a very happy fellow.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:03 pm
I learn something new every time I read your blog.. Thank you!!
By: kathy on August 15, 2011
at 3:08 pm
I’m pleased you found it interesting.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:03 pm
The grey one… handsome indeed! 😀
By: maru on August 15, 2011
at 4:43 pm
They are very impressive animals.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:04 pm
Very beautiful and placid, totally different from their “cousins”, the famous Spanish Miura bulls. Next time that you come to Spain, I would advise you not to get that close to the local bulls. Here you have a sample of what could happen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS0o3AWJgyo&feature=related
By: Mulino Dominillo on August 15, 2011
at 5:19 pm
I think I would keep right away from Spanish bulls.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:05 pm
Beautiful, beautiful animals. Lots of soul. I love them.
By: The Daily Cure / Charlotte on August 15, 2011
at 5:40 pm
These animals were very well looked after and looking good.
By: bagnidilucca on August 15, 2011
at 8:06 pm
Another bit for my plate….. I love bulls but have a healthy respect for them after some very close encounters in the West Australian countryside in the past where I was working. I was in a very small paddock filled with about 20 bulls having to do some work. They are very nosey and stood all around me in a circle, when two of them decided to argue about their position to see what I was doing. I had nowhere to run, but managed to escape between them all and jump on the truck. The fastest move I ever made. I have also visited an artificial insemination farm in Holland. When I die I want to come back as one of those bulls, what a life….
By: paul stoker on August 16, 2011
at 12:03 am
That must have been an interesting visit in Holland.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 7:28 am
The Cattleman from Tamworth assures me that the big beautiful black guy is a black angus. Great pictures. Can’t wait to take the grand children to the EKKA to meet the Bulls.
Di
By: dianne Cant on August 16, 2011
at 6:46 am
Ethan and John will love them I’m sure. Thanks for the identification of the black one.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 7:27 am
They are so lovely. I was thinking that farmers must be amongst the most pragmatic people in the world. They raise these lovely beasts and given the close contact they have with them it would be almost impossible not to recognise their personality and grow to like them – and then they’re chops! Talking of which – I have a porky one in the oven – overcooking…….!
By: Jan on August 16, 2011
at 9:51 am
I think it must be hard to send them off on that final journey.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 9:56 pm
I like the Italian one. They all look so well cared for.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on August 16, 2011
at 11:25 am
They were all washed and brushed and looking great.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 9:56 pm
Oh, that brings back memories – one of those bulls trod on my foot once, and even wearing my heavy boots, I limped for about three months.
By: Journey Photographic on August 16, 2011
at 1:15 pm
I can imagine that one of those hooves could do some damage.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 9:57 pm
Love the last posts you have written……talk about a lot of cock and bull stories……..
By: Moira Drexler on August 16, 2011
at 7:03 pm
Well said! I hadn’t thought if it that way.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 10:03 pm
I love how you showcased the details and beauty of the animals in your photos!
By: nod 'n' smile on August 16, 2011
at 7:22 pm
Thanks! I think they are beautiful.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 10:05 pm
They are all “mighty fine beasts”. The Queensland Country Life boy in the jeans is okay too – (not that you noticed)
By: helen on August 17, 2011
at 4:31 am
As a matter of fact I did notice. I thought Murray Grey man was pretty good too.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:51 am
[…] a legal chook – he looks a bit like a barrister Click here to see these amazing birds and here to see some very large bulls. Southbank Parklands was restored to its beautiful self after […]
By: Looking back over 2011 « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 30, 2011
at 5:23 am