Cows, along with humans, are the most common mammal species, so it is no exaggeration to say that they sometimes occupy a back seat in our lives. Cows with large, hollow eyes, slow gait, and generally laid-back attitudes don't get much recognition outside of their economic role as a source of meat and dairy products. But the truth is, there are far more cows than you think. They are intelligent and highly sociable animals, and in some parts of the world they are even revered as sacred creatures.
Turkish cattle
Cattle, also known as bullfighting cattle,
are descendants of wild cattle known as Uros and were first domesticated in
southeastern Turkey about 10,500 years ago. The second subspecies, also called
Jebu cattle, was later domesticated as a separate event in India about 7,000
years ago. Wild aurochs became extinct in 1627 due to overfishing and loss of
habitat, but their genetics remain in their diverse descendants, including
buffalo, wild yak and, of course, livestock.
Female are called cow and male are known bull
In English, there is usually a single word
that can be used to refer to both males and females of a species such as a cat
or dog. Cow, however, is unique in that there are no singular nouns that refer
equally to adult cows or bulls. We only have the word revenge. That is, in
colloquial usage, cows are often referred to as cows.
They are very social animals
Cows prefer to spend time together, and
some studies show that cows have favorite friends and that being away from each
other can be stressful. In a study that measured sequestration, heart rate and
cortisol levels, researcher Krista McLennan found that females had lower heart
rate and cortisol levels when they had a preferred mate compared to randomized
cows.
Besides enjoying hanging out with other
cows, they do better when humans treat them well. Researchers have found that
if cows were named and treated individually, they could produce nearly 500 more
liters of milk per year. Not only are these cows more productive, they are also
happier. Increased milk production lowers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone
associated with negative emotions.
Cows are good at swimming
It may seem that cows don't drink water, but any cowboy can say
that cows can swim. In fact, "swimming cows" in rivers is a
traditional technique that ranchers and farmers have developed for generations,
allowing them to move cattle between pastures or across the country. Even
without a farmer to look after the cattle, cows will wander into ponds and
lakes in the summer to cool off and avoid insects.
Tipping a cow is probably not real
Many people believe in the story of abandoned cows in the middle
of the night, but experts claim that these storytellers are not touching the
cows, but distorting the facts. In 2005, researchers at the University of
British Columbia concluded that it takes 2,910 Newtons to tilt a cow. If you
still need more evidence, consider what the experts do when you need to put a
cow aside.
Cows don't sleep much
Cows spend 10 to 12 hours a day lying down, but most of them are
time to earn and rest, not to sleep. In fact, the average cow sleeps only about
four hours a day, and typically sleeps at short intervals throughout the day.
Sleep studies have also shown that, just like humans, lack of sleep can affect
the health, productivity and behavior of cattle.
When it comes to sleep, it's worth noting that, unlike horses,
cows do not sleep standing up, but always lie down before going to sleep.
They are sacred symbols in Hindu culture
Animals are considered sacred symbols of life, and cattle in most
Hindu cultures often roam the streets freely, participating in Christmas
traditions. In some cases, there are laws that protect cattle from harm. The
strictest is found in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Here,
killing a cow carries a seven-year prison sentence, and politicians have formed
a "cow's cabinet" to ensure the welfare of the animals.
When cows digest food, fermentation produces large amounts of
methane. Cows produce between 250 and 500 liters of gas per day, a more
powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Livestock account for 14.5% of all
emissions, with cattle and dairy cows more than all other animals that emit
methane. With most of the planet's 1.4 billion cattle raised for livestock,
reducing meat and dairy consumption has been shown to be an effective way to
combat global climate change.
They cannot see red
The old saying that bulls charge when they see red is not true.
Color doesn't upset them. In fact, cows are colorblind by human standards and
do not even have retinal receptors capable of processing a red hue. To a
ferocious bull, a bright red coat looks like a dull yellowish-gray. When a
matador persuades the bull to charge, it is likely the movement of waving a
flag or cape that elicits a reaction, but not the color.
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