I had issues with that, too. As I learned in geography class, it only makes sense, when you're using expensive transport, to transport high-value per unit weight things. Concrete blocks travel by truck, and they don't travel far. Computer chips travel all around the world by airplane.

Even today, with current technology, people are much more likely to ship bull semen than to ship the actual bull.

I'm suddenly flashing on Janene Garafolo's Comedy Central ad about the jerky chew rehydrator.

Even today, with current technology, people are much more likely to ship bull semen than to ship the actual bull.

You can't sell and butcher semen and have steaks in a few weeks' time.

Even today, with current technology, people are much more likely to ship bull semen than to ship the actual bull.

So bull semen + ? = OTP.

You can't sell and butcher semen and have steaks in a few weeks' time.

No, but it's cheaper to ship the steaks than the cattle if that's the plan.

I wonder - if you kick a cow out the airlock just before reentering the atmosphere, would the heat of reentry cook the cow for you?

eta: Maybe "reentry" isn't the best word when you're traveling to other planets....

maybe "when you hit atmo" ?

No, but it's cheaper to ship the steaks than the cattle if that's the plan.

Yup. There's a lot of waste on a carcass.

Well, if you don't already have any heffers (is that the right term?) bull semen isn't going to do you much good.

ETA: Basically, I'm willing to handwave that the buyers had need of an actual herd, for whatever reason, rather than simply meat or breeding material.

Well, if you don't already have any heffers (is that the right term?) bull semen isn't going to do you much good.

I hear it's used in some wrinkle-fighting face creams, so it might not be a total loss even without cows handy.