ABOUT 20 years ago, Killarney's Vicki Jans was given a small ornamental cow from her sister.
This led to Ms Jans collecting more than 7000 of the tiny collectables over the past two decades.
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The dairy farmer is selling her beloved collection as she and her husband prepare to retire and travel around Australia in a caravan.
Ms Jans said when her darling sister bought her one as a present she quickly fell in love with them.
"She bought me one for my birthday 20 years ago and I fell in love with it and that was the start," she said.
"Everywhere I went, if I saw one, I bought it."
Ms Jans said she and her husband had been dairy farmers for about 25 years.
"I love the look of them but I also love the animal, I love cows," she said.
Ms Jans said the couple planned to enjoy a trip around the country before settling in Nelson and there were two cows given to her by her husband which she would keep.
"The time has come to let them go," she said. "We're going to be living in a caravan so I'm taking two with me and that's all I'm taking. My husband bought those for me and they're quite special - I couldn't get rid of them."
Ms Jans said she hoped whoever ended up with her collection treasured them as much as she had.
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