Send a cow (or a cuddly calf!)

If you are looking for that "ah" factor in your present for a birthday, valentines day or anniversary, then a cuddly calf might be just what you are searching for.

The gift is available from Oxfam as part of the Oxfam Unwrapped gift collection which enables you to send a unique present to the developing world on someone else's behalf.

The gifts hit the headlines last Christmas, when Oxfam raised over £5 million for needy people around the world, by helping people to send goats, camels, chickens, pigs, cows and other assorted livestock around the world.

All the gift-giver has to do is order the present online
, give a special message and Oxfam does the rest. A card arrives to the happy couple with your personalised message, telling them that a gift has been made on their behalf to some of the world's poorest people.

A calf however is one of Oxfam's most popular gifts.

In the words of the charity Oxfam - "Here’s moosic to a family’s ears – their own calf."

The junior milk maker will help feed a family. Their land will be fertilised with cow manure and any surplus milk can be sold to pay for seeds to plant. And when your cow has a calf of its own, it’ll be passed on to another family in need.

"Getting the cow has really helped me; the problems my family have had have been reduced because of the money I get from the milk. I'm really thankful and happy for the help I received and the benefits we've got. I hope the scheme can be extended to more people here. I'm looking forward to a time when I have more cows and I can use them to look after my family and myself for the future" Rose Kaluma from Malawi told Oxfam.

In 2005, the year of 'Making Poverty History', but also the years of terrible disasters, the charity Oxfam says that gifts such as calves and cows raised millions for the world's poorest people.

To find out more and how to give a cow and other alternative gifts visit the Oxfam Unwrapped web site here