Time has come to let the Swedish cows out of the stable, to enjoy their fair share of spring sun and grass under the hoofs. According to Swedish law, cows have the right to graze outside during summer.
Nowadays, seeing the cows being let out has become a popular family event, and lots of people go to nearby farms to watch the newly released cows take their first happy leaps after a long and dark winter inside.
All the photos and films of jumping cows make me smile, and it is certainly a sign of pure happiness. But if I were a cow I wouldn’t mind being able to go outside at all times of the year. And this is allowed in Sweden, as long as you have a shelter for the animals.
Snow is not a big problem if you are a cow, rather it is often the ground that becomes worn out and destroyed if cows walk on it during the winter. But some farmers have solved this by letting their cows out in the forest. Just look at these photos of cows in the snow!
More cows, from a typical Swedish “cow release”:
