Cows: Fascinating Things You Didn\\\’t Know They Can Do

Cows and fascinating things? Aside from producing milk, cows are pretty alluring creatures. Most domesticated cows you see on farms today are descendants of Aurochs or wild oxen found in Turkey around 10,500 years ago and became extinct around 1627. However, this is not the only sub-species thought to date back this far. For Example, other sub-species, such as the Zebu Cattle, were domesticated in India at or around the same time and gained notoriety due to their calm, gentle, and loving demeanor.

India was the first country to keep these animals as pets, putting them on a pedestal and viewing them as a gift from god to be protected and honored, thus earning them their title of sacred. Honoring this animal is understandable, considering cows have equal intelligence to human beings. They are eager to learn and love to be challenged, so don\\\’t hesitate to learn more about them. Here are some more fascinating things about cows that you didn\\\’t know they could do. 

Cows Develop Strong Friendships

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Cows can bond with their human handlers and other cows like people. Have you ever seen them traveling together or one or two lingering away from the rest of their herd? The reason is that they develop friendships and band with those with similar personality traits. Sound familiar? Of course, it does. It sounds very similar to human friendships and even having best friends!

They communicate by mooing, grooming, following their friends from one place to another, initiating affection, cuddling, playing, eating together, and challenging one another. The more connected they are to other cows and humans, the happier they are. Meaning they will live longer and more productive lives. Farmers do their best to keep herds together because separating them tends to result in anxiety, stress, and depression.

Yes, cows can suffer from these conditions as well. Encouraging the development of bonds between a group of cows is something everyone who owns one should consider because it promotes good health, increases the animal\\\’s lifespan, and provides them with a sense of safety and security. Cows often bond the same way with their human handlers and will come to them when called by name, beg for pets, and even attempt to groom their humans by licking them. At this point, you are likely ready to adopt one, right? 

 Fascinating Things About a Cow\\\’s Eyesight 

You\\\’d be wrong if you thought humans were the only ones with stellar eyesight. That\\\’s right. Cows can see things around them simultaneously and from all angles when their heads are lowered by 300 degrees. When they raise their heads, however, they tend to have trouble seeing, making it difficult to see what is behind them, so they\\\’re easily startled. While we see colors as they indeed are, this process is quite a bit different for cows because they are Dichromatic.

This means their eyes contain two color receptors only equipped to see yellow, blue, brown, grey, black, and white, which rules out the old wives\\\’ tale that they are colorblind. Due to only having two color receptors and limited ability to see different colors, they prefer to be kept in well-lit areas so they can see what\\\’s ahead of them. The light should be dim and not off-put shadows that have been known to startle them.

Their sensitivity to light also contributes to a flight zone, which they perceive as a threatened invasion of their personal space. A flight zone is their safe space, so it is best to exercise caution when approaching if you are unaware of that safe space, or they will bolt. According to seasoned owners, there are three rules of thumb. Do not approach from the head, do not overexcite them, and definitely do not try to ride them, or you\\\’ll likely get bucked. All of these conditions are to avoid violating their personal space. 

Their Incredible Sense of Smell 

Cows also have an incredible sense of smell, which helps them detect food and their surroundings up to 6 miles away. They even recognize the scents and odors around them, such as other cows and their human handlers. These enhanced olfactory senses allow them to detect when other animals are in danger so they know to steer clear of certain areas or places that may be dangerous. Like humans, they also dislike certain smells, like saliva and dung.

Therefore, owning one or more of these animals is a big responsibility. It would be best to keep their living quarters clean, orderly, and immaculate. In addition to having a keen nose, cows also have another olfactory organ that no other animal has. This organ is called the vomeronasal organ and is on the roof of the mouth. 

This organ is responsible for reinforcing and keeping the interest of potential mates. For instance, they will learn to recognize their mates\\\’ scent, the flehman expression. The organ allows them to quickly detect pheromones, making it stronger than anything else the animal will ever breathe in.  Pretty interesting, right? Who knew there was so much to learn about cows? 

Final Thoughts 

Cows are remarkable animals because they can develop long-lasting friendships with other herd members and human handlers. They love patting their heads and seeking attention, which sounds like our domestic house cats and dogs. They\\\’re not much different, and they are just as intelligent.

Also, the cow\\\’s incredible ability to sense danger and survey their surroundings through sight and smell is unlike any other animal you\\\’ve encountered. If you haven\\\’t been able to be around a cow in real life, now is the time to do it. If you have kids, they\\\’re likely out of school, so you can make it a family affair and enjoy it together.

Not to mention, it\\\’s educational. So find it where your local farm is and ask if you can schedule a tour to learn about these beautiful creatures. That is if you are ready to learn more about them. If you cannot take a farm tour, check out a book about cows at your local library or watch a documentary. Many free documentaries are available online, especially on YouTube, so don\\\’t hesitate to check them out.

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