Obituary Nico and Nando
Nico and Nando - who says cattle can't grieve?
Nico and Nando, two Brown Swiss steers, were in Switzerland and were rescued by a private organisation that helps cattle in need. The two friends developed very well and became really big oxen with magnificent horns.
When the space in the pen became too small for them, the organisation tried to place Nico and Nando. However, their large, pointed horns made the placement difficult and so Nico and Nando eventually became Aiderbichlers. In 2015, they moved together from Switzerland to Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf.
The horn system made the placement more difficult
Nico and Nando had not been dehorned, which is why the magnificent steers were difficult or even impossible to place.
Why do cattle have horns?
Cattle are very social animals and have a complex body language. Horns are used, for example, to determine the hierarchy in a herd, but they are also used as a playful way to socialise with their conspecifics.
An iron rod heated to 600 degrees burns off the horn base on the calf's head
Nando and Nico did not have a 600-degree iron rod placed on their heads for ten seconds to burn off the base of their horns, sparing them both immense pain, trauma and a lifelong sensitive spot on their heads.
In factory farming, many cattle are kept close together in the barn and the cramped conditions or tethering, for example, affect the good-natured character of the cattle. A lack of exercise and space turns peaceful creatures into aggressive animals and, if they have horns, they can inflict serious injuries on humans and other cattle or even impale them.
The oxen always kept a cool head
No disadvantage where there isn’t an advantage. Although the two oxen could not be rehomed due to their horns, they were able to keep a cool head throughout their lives. This is because the horns dissipate excess heat and thus protect the brain in particular. Nico and Nando’s beautiful horns did not harm either animals or humans for as long as they lived, which was 15 years.
Time has not left Nico and Nando unscathed
All these years, Nico and Nando have always made us smile. But neither Nico nor Nando have been unaffected by time.
Nico became quieter, slower and weaker. In the end, he could no longer stand up. He was given restorative injections and the best treatments, but nothing worked to restore Nico’s zest for life. He lay in the stable for several days and everything was done to get his circulation going. We soon realised that nature was stronger than us.
Nico fell asleep a few weeks ago, leaving his friend Nando behind.
And it does exist, the everlasting friendship between animals
Nico was now on the other side of the river in a pasture where there is no pain and no problems with getting up.
Nando had been mourning his deceased friend since he had closed his eyes. His mooing became quieter and quieter and Nando’s sad behaviour choked our throats, because we felt that Nando no longer wanted to live without Nico.
So, weeks after Nico’s death, he gave the same signs as his previous friend – he laid down and all his efforts brought no improvement to his weak, tired body. He wanted to go to Nando’s and we said our goodbyes in peace and a deep sadness, feeling that, as humans do, he wanted to follow his best friend.
When animals die, a piece of our heart always goes on the journey with them
The friends Nico and Nando were exceptionally good-natured and social oxen and you could say that they always had a smile ready for their humans. They loved to be stroked and wiggled their ears slowly, as if they understood us when we spoke to them very quietly
(...) "Love is the most sensitive and at the same time the strongest thing there is in life. Living love lasts beyond life; it is the only living thing that can last forever," murmured the young fox as he waved to the eternally small prince, "and parting is part of life." (...)
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Dear Nico, dear Nando,
From day one, the animal keepers at Gut Aiderbichl knew that you were two very special oxen.
Thank you for letting us accompany you for so many years, for letting us laugh with you and for proving to us that if cattle are treated with respect, they can also be a friend to humans.
Your horn system never hurt us. It has taught us to be mindful.
Good luck on the big pasture in animal heaven and don’t forget your humans.
By: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
