Big Bertha (cow)
Encyclopedia
Big Bertha was a cow who held two Guinness World Records
: she was the oldest cow recorded, dying just three months short of her 49th birthday, and she also held the record for lifetime breeding, having produced 39 calves. During her lifetime she helped raise $75,000 for cancer research and other charities.
on 17 March 1945, St Patrick's Day. Her breed has been given as either Droimeann (a native Irish cattle breed), or Friesian. She was bought at a cattle fair by farmer Jerome O'Leary and lived at his farm near the market town of Kenmare
in County Kerry
, southwest Ireland.
Big Bertha held two Guinness World Records
: she was the oldest cow recorded, dying just three months short of her 49th birthday, and she also held the record for lifetime breeding, having produced 39 calves. However, by 2006, the categories had been dropped from the Guinness Book of World Records.
Due to her World Record breaking status, Big Bertha became a local celebrity. Her appearances at cattle fairs helped raise $75,000 for cancer research and other charities, and she would lead the St Patrick's Day parade in Sneem
to aid with fundraising. Prior to her appearances at the noisy parades, O'Leary would feed Big Bertha whiskey to steady her nerves. After her death on New Year's Eve 1993, a wake
was held for her in a pub, the Blackwater Tavern at Raycoslough, Blackwater, in County Kerry. On Big Bertha's death, O'Leary still had several of her offspring in his herd, the oldest of whom was then 35.
Following her death, Big Bertha was stuffed
, and now resides at a farm at Beaufort in County Kerry.
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
: she was the oldest cow recorded, dying just three months short of her 49th birthday, and she also held the record for lifetime breeding, having produced 39 calves. During her lifetime she helped raise $75,000 for cancer research and other charities.
Life
Big Bertha was born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 17 March 1945, St Patrick's Day. Her breed has been given as either Droimeann (a native Irish cattle breed), or Friesian. She was bought at a cattle fair by farmer Jerome O'Leary and lived at his farm near the market town of Kenmare
Kenmare
Kenmare is a small town in the south of County Kerry, Ireland. The name Kenmare is the anglicised form of Ceann Mara meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay.-Location:...
in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, southwest Ireland.
Big Bertha held two Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
: she was the oldest cow recorded, dying just three months short of her 49th birthday, and she also held the record for lifetime breeding, having produced 39 calves. However, by 2006, the categories had been dropped from the Guinness Book of World Records.
Due to her World Record breaking status, Big Bertha became a local celebrity. Her appearances at cattle fairs helped raise $75,000 for cancer research and other charities, and she would lead the St Patrick's Day parade in Sneem
Sneem
Sneem is a town situated on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry in the southwest of Ireland. It lies on the estuary of the River Sneem. National route N70 runs through the town....
to aid with fundraising. Prior to her appearances at the noisy parades, O'Leary would feed Big Bertha whiskey to steady her nerves. After her death on New Year's Eve 1993, a wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
was held for her in a pub, the Blackwater Tavern at Raycoslough, Blackwater, in County Kerry. On Big Bertha's death, O'Leary still had several of her offspring in his herd, the oldest of whom was then 35.
Following her death, Big Bertha was stuffed
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
, and now resides at a farm at Beaufort in County Kerry.