Milking the cash cow until it dies

I am never one not to heed such calls – I have heard your cries dear readers, even though I am not a rain-maker!
What was the import of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the novel – two legs bad and four legs good, or something like that? We re-visit four legs in today’s article, in the form of a cow. It would appear that the value of the cow is universally appreciated (UK – animal farm, Americas and in Africa – unraveled below).
It is those who grew up in rural Africa that will appreciate the richness of the moo (cow) heritage. Some of us grew up herding cattle with our uncles and brothers or even grandfathers, during those days when grass and water were plentiful – oh dear me!
That though, it not the point, the point is that cattle, cows in fact, were fed well, for a reason-effective milk production. When it came to milking time, there were a number of interested stakeholders (calves, households and us herd-boys).
Conjure a typical sequence when it came to milking, in yesteryear. A calf was released (around 8am), from its holding pen into the comfort of its mother’s pen. We would watch with envy as the calf enjoyed itself as it stimulated mother cow into producing milk ( milk let down)
When this process was fully underway, the uncle/grandfather would unceremoniously push the calf away, in order to start milking the cow (for family). At that stage we would start getting excited as it meant that our turn was almost there. As soon as the milking pail was full, the uncles/grandfathers would beckon us to come closer – near the udder and they would squeeze the cow’s teat in the direction of our open mouth.
Boy oh boy, milk (in its original form), would collect in our mouths and we would let it down our oesophagus (throat), with much delight.
This stage was, however, short lived though, as the uncles knew when to hand over to cow and calf, for further bonding and nutrition! Of cows and milk, all stakeholders had their fair share!
The next time I was to meet the cow story was when I was struggling with my business studies module. We were being taught the BCG business concept (Boston Consulting Group), developed by a one Bruce Henderson. I figured that this was now in the Americas (I learnt about the Boston tea party many years ago).
The imagery of a cow was central to the performance of the BCG model. It now strikes me that Bruce could have grown up in the country side (rural areas), in the Americas, observing cows (and dogs as well), as these two animals feature in this matrix.
This is the story of a researcher interrogating phenomena – brilliant stuff. Cows, in this model, also represent joy and nourishment, this time for other business units (stakeholders).
However, it is important to note that there was always a delicate balance in the sharing by the various stakeholders if the business was to be sustainable! As this is not meant to be a lecture at a Business School, we will leave it at that.
Someone recently said to me that I am predictable these days, in day to day conversations, I mean – and this happened to be a brother of mine, who I consider somewhat a cash cow, for he has a long heart and a fairly deep pocket! I have a number of brothers by the way and I hope this will make each one of them to be even kinder to me as they try to confirm which one of them I am referring to! The cash cow concept also exists in social circles, is what I am alluding to. This manifests itself in many ways.
In polygamy there was (is) the favourite mother (wife), some of them with very discernible traits (kind and caring, beautiful, etc.). The most striking feature for me was the reciprocity in these relations. Society is losing its values I sometimes (I see it developing to always) think – as this aspect is fast disappearing.
The cash cow is fast being milked to death as it were, is an observation I have made over the last few years. Starting with the cows themselves, in yesteryear, the cow was never used as a source of draught power, not in my part of the country, at least. Nowadays, hayi bo – it is draught power, being milked as well as reduced hours of grazing – God forbid.!
Turning to people, the kind ones are not always thanked for their kind deeds – only receiving more requests with the passage of time – milking the cash cow to death, I say.
At least I call my cash cow type brother, “brother-man”, despite his being younger than me (recall milk let down phenomenon!) Some will call this behavior of mine manipulation! All I can say is that diplomacy has a definition which is domiciled in social circles.
Staying in the social arena, speeding ticket campaigns – addressing a problem or now a cash cow scenario. Campaigns, as we know them will ordinarily have a beginning and end, I say. An evaluation will be built in, to assess whether the campaign has worked or not. There is no endless campaign unless the research methodology is not there or faulty!
I loved what I saw down south, road signals to assist in the driving to stay alive campaigns. These were in the form of warning signs (accident area for the next 10-kilometre, signs of cameras installed at certain locations along the highways- her highness got worried about this one until we crossed the border back into motherland, on account of her thinking that we would find tickets waiting for us by the border)! Properly constituted campaigns work fairly well, my research training tells me. I am not sure whether having speed traps within five hundred metres of each other, or having them behind bushes is about a stay alive or a cash cowing campaign?
The cash cow is being milked to death, do we not see!
The work situation is not spared. If one cared to establish a database on employee productivity versus recognition by employer, one would get startling results, sometimes.
In some cases a clear inverse relationship exists whereby those who are worked like slaves/ stolen donkeys, are recognised the least.
Dr., I am still trying to construct a research topic – so many phenomena are emerging in my world! Can I be allowed to do a double doctorate, when I eventually get around to doing it?
Employers, there are clearly some acceptable protocols in the working world- recognize employees for work done, and not work perceived to have been done! Equally, those employees benefitting from this affirmative action, stand guilty of impersonating!
Exchange is no robbery, they used to say. We seriously need to validate these sayings in these modern times – I suspect they are no longer quite applicable!
Take home? There used to be a balance in stakeholder benefits in yesteryear, at least in the rural areas. You would feed the cow that gave you milk.
The calf that initiated the milk let-down would get its share of milk, not to mention the herd-boy and the rest of the family. A delicate balance existed.
All I can say, looking at scenario today, is that let us stop milking the cash cow to death. There has to be a balance for sustainability, I say.
Agriculture represents life and a living – I rest my case.
l Send comments and views to e-mail address hecandbe@ gmail.com or sms 0777556081.