Niagra is one of the best milkers on the farm, and is also the biggest animal we have, not to mention one of the friendliest. Being an older gal, Niagra has a pretty firm grasp on what being in the dairy means, and had no problem picking up the slack some of the less ambitious ladies were leaving.
Due to a prior injury that was aggravated by calving, Madam Niagra was prescribed a week or so of rest and relaxation in the barn whilst her silly and more nimble herdmates raced around outside.
Typically, our older cows are a little more mellow, and since they know the routine pretty well, they are usually unlikely to cause disruptions in the flow of things. Most are calm and reliable as they patiently go throughout their day mentoring the younger and more fiesty goons that have recently become members of the milking herd.
Though very sweet and calm, Niagra apparently missed the memo about being a non-disruptive member of herd society.
During her first session of physical therapy (a nice leisurely stroll around the inside of the barn during the "cleaning" segment of milking chores), Niagra was caught after having opened 2 of the chains that divide the cow area from the visitor area. This is a feat in and of itself, because sometimes I can't even get them open (and I have thumbs!). After her stunt with the chains, she was shood away from them so that the students could go back to work cleaning without having to monitor her every move.
Shortly after she was relocated to an area where she didnt have chains to play with, one of the carts full of clean shavings just so happened to get tipped over. Niagra was standing very innocently next to it...
I guess the moral of the story is that not even cows have to "act their age"...