DALLAS (October 13, 2009)--From paintings of cattle roaming wide-open spaces to small toy cows to ceramic figures of the animals, Derrill Osborn collected them all, and after about half a century of collecting cows, the 70-year-old former Neiman Marcus fashion executive has decided to part with his herd at an auction Wednesday evening.

The auction featuring about 350 items will also include a few non-bovine items, but the cows are the stars.

Even though Osborn left the New Mexico ranch he on which he was reared for a 40-year career in fashion that took him around the globe, cow figurines still caught his eye as he wandered through antiques stores from Milan to London.

Scott Shuford, president of Dallas Auction Gallery, estimates Osborn's whole collection could go for more than $500,000.