Parade Heifers Were Well Cared For

To the Editor:

In response to Deborah Christolini’s letter to the editor September 5, 2003. “Concerned About The Cows.” Those “cows” were actually heifers. At no time were these animals distressed or in danger. The frothing of the mouth that may have been seen by Ms Christolini was nothing more than the chewing of cud from the fresh grass the animals had been eating all morning before I gave them each water and helped the Paproskis load them into the trailer for the parade. I personally drove and unloaded the animals at Johnnycake Lane at 9:55 am. The Children of Sugar Lane (who worked all week with the heifers) walked them under the supervision of the Paproskis and their parents to the starting point of division. The parade started a 10 am and the animals had no waiting time before starting. I drove the tractor that pulled the Hay Wagon from Castle Hill Farm with the younger children from Sugar Lane riding on it with two adults. The Paproskis were walking on each side of Main Street with the heifers. Other parents of Sugar Lane were walking along side of the hay wagon.

If Ms Christolini simply had the decency to ask us about water and food for the animals, we all would have explained how John Yannet and myself had been asked to install a water barrel on the hay wagon that had a valve with a hose out the bottom to fill a bucket hanging under the wagon that the heifers and dogs could drink out of it at any time. The hay wagon also had grain and hay for the heifers. The animals were monitored by the Paproskis at all times. The Paproskis take impressive care of all of these animals. When Dolly’s (the brown Jersey who Stephanie walked) mother Candy got sick last August, The Paproskis drove Candy up to Tuffs University at an expense that ran into thousands of dollars. The average life expectancy of milking cow in a parlor barn in the USA is 3½ years; at Castle Hill Farm their average life expectancy is between three and four times that age. These animals are well taken care of and loved.

I want thank Andrea’s Bakery for letting the heifers eat the grass on the side of the building and the flowers out front after finishing the parade. Flowers are like candy to them. It was nice to see everyone who came up to visit the heifers and learn about them.

The parade committee should be commended for all their hard work to make this event possible and a great success.

I also want to thank the Paproskis and all the families of Sugar Lane for allowing me to participate with you.

Bob Hendrickson

26 Rock Ridge Road, Newtown                             September 16, 2003