Cow

Cow Facts

This profile should have the keyword “domestic cattle” instead of “cow”, but the term “cow” is being used much more frequently. Here are the correct definitions:

Calf: young animal
Cow: Female cattle that has had one calf
Bull: Male cattle
Ox: Castrated adult male cattle

The Cow and Its Stomachs

People often say that the cow has got four stomachs, but basically it is just one stomach with four compartments: The rumen (fermentation chamber), reticulum (separates fermented from undigested feed), omasum (absorption of water and fatty acids that are produced during the fermentation process in the rumen), and the abomasum (resembles our stomach).

Cow - Photo: Birkir Asgeirsson/Shutterstock

Every Bit Has to be Chewed 30 Times ...

... dieticians advise us. This helps us to quickly recognize when we are full. Now imagine you would chew your food about 30,000 times like a cow. In doing so, the cow produces 40 gal (150 l) of saliva and gets really thirsty. Therefore, the cow sometimes consumes up to 47.5 gal (180 l) of water per day – in some cases up to 6.6 gal (25 l) per minute.

“What d’ya say?” Cows Speak Dialects!

No, they don’t have accents and do not speak any dialects we are familiar with. But their mooing actually differs from region to region.

Cow - Photo: Vera Verano Photo/Shutterstock

Up? Yes! Down? No!

Cows can be easily led upstairs, but would never walk down the stairs. They are not capable to bend their legs accordingly.

This Knocks Anybody Over – Except Cows

Sometimes cows have to be anaesthetized to get medical treatment or be transported. But they do not fall over then as we would do. Mostly they simply keep standing still. It’s alright as long as the doctor knows if the cow is wide awake or already drowsy.

Masters of Sniffing

The enthusiasm for fresh, green, savory grass can motivate cows to take a walk of 8 kilometers (provided the field is large enough). Cows can smell things at about this distance. So pick some clover and wait what’s going to happen.

Cow - Photo: Modfos/Shutterstock

Big Cow Chilli

The current world record holder with a size of 6.72 ft (2.05 m) is an Italian bull called Fiorino. But another cow almost won the title and was munching his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. Ok, actually the cow was a bull, a Holstein cattle. At 6.49 ft (1.98 m) (total height !!) Big Cow Chilli weighed as much as a small elephant. Unfortunately, his joints did not withstand the heavy weight, so vet had to put him to sleep, to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.

The Cow as a Farm Animal and Holy Cows in India

As farm animals cows produce milk, meat, and leather. But the Hindus in India worship the cow as a holy animal that must not be killed. The cow is seen as a mother or provider sustaining life.

Reproduction

Cows usually have calves once a year. During the first days after birth, the cow produces a special mother’s milk that is not drinkable for humans.

• Watch now on animalfunfacts.net:
• Video: 11 Mammal Fun Facts - e.g. about the cow

Cow - Photo: Jeffrey Schwartz Photogra/Shutterstock