[tex-live] usermode with TEXMFLOCAL as usertree

[Karl Berry]

    Now that I think about it the cowfont was perhaps already
    there in my TL install

No, it isn't.  It is nonfree.

    http://tlcontrib.metatex.org/2012/archive/cowfont.tar.xz

The cowfont has had some nice updates recently. I suggest installing
context-minimals and simply extracting the font files by hand, if you
are in the mood to typeset with cows or sheep.
http://wiki.contextgarden.net/ConTeXt_Standalone

Best,
Karl