Facts About Cows

Apart from humans, cows are the only common mammal species. Therefore it’s safe to say that they are sometimes pushed in the background in our daily lives. With their large, unfocused eyes and a slow pace and generally calm attitude, cattle don’t receive recognition for anything other than their importance as a source of protein or dairy goods.

But that there’s more to cows than you may believe. They’re intelligent and highly social animals and are considered sacred animals in certain parts of the globe. This article will provide 10 fascinating facts about cows which will make you think about the gentle giants of our world once more.

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Facts About Cows

1. Cows that originate from Turkey
   Domestic cows are also referred to as taurine cows, are the descendants of wild oxen referred to as aurochs. They were domesticated first in southeast Turkey approximately 10500 years ago. A different subspecies, commonly called zebu cattle were later domesticated in a separate incident about 7,000 years ago in India. The wild aurochs became extinct in 1627 because of hunting and habitat loss However. Their genes are preserved in various descendants such as wild yaks, water buffalo and, obviously domestic cattle.
2. Female Cattle are referred to as Cows, while male Cattle are called Bulls
   The English world, we typically have a single word that can refer to the female or male of a species, such as cat or dog. But cows are different because we don’t have a single noun equally applicable to the adult cow or bull. We can use cattle which is plural. In everyday use, cows are usually called cows.
3. They’re Highly Social Animals
   Cows like spending their time with one another Some research has discovered that cows have a favorite companion and may be anxious when isolated from each other. In a study of the isolation of a cow, their heart rates and cortisol levels researcher Krista McLennan discovered women had lower rates of heartbeat and cortisol levels in an individual partner they preferred over the unpredictability of a cow.1

Alongside enjoying socializing with their fellow cows, cows also perform better when taken care of by humans. Researchers have discovered that If you give a cow a name treating her like a person, she’ll produce an extra 500 pints of milk per year.2 Not just are these cows more productive, they’re happier too. the increase in milk production is associated with decreased cortisol levels, the stress hormone linked with negative feelings.

4. Cows Can Swim Well
   The herd sporting heads with horns, enters the water of a body
   Michael S. Lewis / Getty Images
   It may not be obvious that they’d be opposed to water however any cowboy will claim that cattle can swim. Actually, “swimming cattle” across rivers is a standard technique that farmers and ranchers have been practicing over time and allows cattle to move between pastures and even across the countryside. Even without a farmer shepherding cattle, they will swim into lakes and ponds to cool off and get away from bugs in summertime.
5. Cow-Tipping is probably not a real thing.
   Many people believe in their stories of tipping cows during the night. However, experts claim that these people are lying and not tipping cows. As of 2005, University of British Columbia researchers determined the tipping of a cow requires the use of 2,910 newtons of force. This means it will require more strength than human strength to knock over the cow.3 If you’re still in need of more proof, take a look at what experts do to move a cow onto its side — they use tables.
6. Cows don’t sleep very much.
   Cows can be found spending 10-12 hours each day in a reclining position and resting, but the majority of it is time for relaxation and not sleeping. In reality, an average cow only rests for about 4 hours per day, typically in short intervals during the course of the day. Research on sleep has also demonstrated that similar to humans, sleep deprivation could affect the health of a cow as well as productivity and behavior. On the subject of sleeping, it’s essential to note that, unlike horses cows don’t sleep sitting up, and they will lay down to sleep before settling down.

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7. They are a sacred symbol in Hindu Culture
   The animal is regarded to be a symbol of the sacred and the cows of Hindu majority culture often walk the streets without restriction and are part of holiday customs. In certain cases, some laws safeguard cows from injury. The most stringent of them are located in central Indian states in Madhya Pradesh, where punishments for killing a cow can include seven years in prison and the state legislature has formed a “Cow Cabinet” to ensure the safety of animals.
8. They are among the largest sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
   In the process of digesting food, fermentation causes a huge amount of methane. Cattle produce anywhere from 250 to 500 liters of methane each day. Methane is a most powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Livestock is responsible for 14.5 percent of the emissions. Beef and dairy cattle surpass all other livestock in terms of methane emitters.5 Because most of the 1.4 billion cows that live on the globe are being raised as livestock, decreasing the consumption of dairy and meat products has been proved to be an effective strategy to combat global warming.
9. They aren’t able to see the Color Red
   The old saying that bulls are angry when they see red is not the case at all. The color isn’t enough to make them angry. In actuality the cows are colorblind according to human standards. They do not even have retina receptors that are able to detect red shades. For a raging bull, the bright red cape looks like gray, dull yellowish. When a matador entices an animal to fight in a charge, the gesture of the flag-waving or cape triggers an immediate response rather than the hue.
10. Cows only have one stomach — with Four Compartments
    It’s often claimed the cow has four stomachs. It’s not true. Cows have a massive stomach, with four distinct compartments, each performing a distinct function.6 This intricate digestive system allows cows to processing better the 35-50 lbs of hay and grass they consume each day. It’s in the second portion inside the stomach, known as the reticulum, that cows make cud, a sticky substance that cows burp into and chew on until they complete their meal.