I've commuted by bicycle, I've traveled by bicycle, and most recently, I've herded cows on a bicycle.
At Buck Run Farm, the grass-fed beasts travel over 350 acres to the freshest pastures guided by their faithful herdsman. The mob grazing technique employed at the farm is fairly intensive and involves moving the cows daily to new forage in the amount of an acre or less. The cows eat 40% and trample 60% all the while depositing fairly concentrated cow-pies on an acre or less. As far as I understand, this pasture management is thought to be more sustainable because of its ability to increase the biological and microbial activity of the soil and more cost effective by eliminating the need to hay fields.
Sometimes moving cows goes smoothly and sometimes it involved unexpected events.... like last week, when half the herd stormed the neighbor's driveway only to end up in the flower bed. As you might expect, this is not a way to make friends with the local residents.
The farm has a four-wheel drive two-person ATV of sorts - which is generally used in conjunction with someone walking to direct the movement of the herd on the other side. The system is a fine one for predictable days when the cows are well behaved (read: not hungry)- but sometimes (on chaotic days when you're the one walking) one wishes for something a little faster - a horse perhaps to chase the lone steer back to the herd - or better yet - A BICYCLE.
I'm going to step out on a limb here and assert that bicycles are be the most underused herding tool and form of farm transportation out there - at least within the North American context. They are fast enough to catch a cow, quiet enough to sneak up on a cow, and mysterious enough to keep the herd at an arms length and moving in the direction you want them.
Totally practical, definitely my favorite new piece of farm equipment, and depending on what next year brings, maybe just the excuse for another bike.
