Meaning of the word "the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it" in English

What does "the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it

US /ðə kaʊ noʊz nɑːt wʌt hɜːr teɪl ɪz wɜːrθ tɪl ʃi hæz lɔːst ɪt/
UK /ðə kaʊ nəʊz nɒt wɒt hə teɪl ɪz wɜːθ tɪl ʃi hæz lɒst ɪt/
"the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it" picture

Idiom

people do not appreciate the value of what they have until they no longer have it

Example:
I never realized how much I relied on my car until it broke down; truly, the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it.
He only started exercising after his health declined, proving that the cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it.