Questions about cows

[birdling]

Yesterday, I drove past the same field of cows 4 times in an hour and I have some questions that have been puzzling me, if anyone can help?

1. The weather was very, very hot. Full sun. Every time I went past, the cows were standing huddled together in a group in different places in the field. There was no shade in the field (although there might be in other parts, I couldn't see the whole area). Do cows like the sun? Do they get sunstroke/burn? Was the huddling together due to the sun?

2. There was always one cow who wasn't in the group, but standing a few metres away. Was she an outcast? A rebel? The head cow?

3. Many years ago, when I was a student, I was camping in the middle of the countryside next to an archaeological dig I was working on. The was a field of cows next to our campsite. Every night, in the middle of the night the cows would all suddenly thunder down the field to the fence by my tent, all moo really loudly then thunder back up the field again. They would do this at several points during the night. What in earth were they doing????

I really like cows.😁

I regularly chat to these cuties when out on my daily walks, and they usually come over for head scritches.

We could do with sun cream like that for people.
I hate the heavy greasy feeling.

Yeah, totally! Sorry I know nothing about cows, haha. X

That's interesting! Maybe I was too cynical with my marketing ploy suggestion upthread. Makes total sense, cats being what they are!

That's fascinating. I was going to add if it was particularly windy, certainly with rain, most animals will be back to the wind, but this is another level of marvel.

They once told me to clean my elderly tom cat's teeth, he opened his mouth wide like a python and spat. I never tried again.

I had two ginger cats....both total idiots

The grouping seems to be more prevalent with beef or suckler cows and is most likely the fly thing, sharing swishing tails etc. The facing same direction is probably because they have all walked to a new location then just got their heads down and started eating. There are 90 plus animals is this bunch

Yes and a few aren't obeying the directional thing!

This behaviour is equally prevalent amongst a dairy herd too. There are any number of reasons they would group together like this and it wouldn’t be because of flies. They will swish their tails to get rid of flies.

I’ve seen cows group together like this for various reasons, just being moved, with dairy cows they do this closer to milking time, if they know food is coming, if something is going on in a neighbouring field, shelter, water. Sometimes they do this for no obvious reason at all they just do. I’ve seen cows bunch up and then spread out and bunch up again.

I have even seen the majority of the herd in a bunch and then one just grazing away from them on her own. Sometimes one will do this if they are unwell or injured or has been fighting with the others. Sometimes she’s just happy grazing on her own minding her own business.

Same here. Ginger (in cats) is a tabby mutation so it's maybe genetic that they are barmy and vicious

@birdlingand @DiscoBobThis is non greasy and recognised as effective https://www.boots.com/nivea-sun-uv-face-suncream-spf-50-shine-control-50ml-10242721

As we say about ours he's not a complete idiot....some of the bits are missing.

Another here for the ginger-nut crew

Do we ever have crossbreed cows in the UK, e.g. Holstein/ Ayrshire? They'd look pretty cool with brown and black splodges on white. I know crossbreeding with pigs is widespread (I don't mean cow/pig hybrids).

PP majority of cows will be cross breeds, beef bull on dairy cows for example, a smaller breed on first time calvers for ease. Introducing a different trait such as calmer temperament, better feet and so on. Pretty colours maybe not so much .

I thought exactly that when I read the same 😂. …if whoever said that wants to come round and try to apply suncream to my cat, good luck to them!

That is wonderful and also slightly terrifying

Lookout/outcast cow was on lookout duty again last Saturday.
I've just realised that she is a completely different colour to the others (brown rather than black and white).
Do cows see in colour? Could this be the reason for her aloofness?

No idea. But I love the fact this thread is still going.

It's because cows are lovely!

💐

any chance of a pic of those cows next time you’re out @birdling
😁

I'll try, but I generally only drive past and there isn't really anywhere to stop.

Just driven past again. No lookout cow today, all lying down in a huddle.