Experts say cows have different accents based on their breed. Cows are very important in our lives for both religious and business reasons. Plus, they are really cute! But did you know they are also harming our planet?
Here, you will learn why and find other interesting cow facts, like why some religions avoid eating beef and some fun statistics about cows. So, before you move on, check out these cool cow facts!
- In reality, only female cattle are referred to as cows, whereas male cattle are referred to as bull. Young female cattle are called heifers, whereas young male cattle are called oxen or bullocks. If they are castrated, they are referred to as steers.
- Johne’s disease, which affects dairy cows, causes severe diarrhea, weight loss, and decreased milk supply.
- They remember well and can identify other cows by their faces and names.
- Cows are very curious and will check out anything new around them.
- When cows are happy, they make a soft “moo” sound. When they are stressed, they make a loud noise.
- Most of the milk we drink, about 90%, comes from dairy cows.
- Cows need to become pregnant in order to produce milk, yet they can only have one baby every year!
- Cows are ruminants, which means they eat plants. They chew their meal, swallow it, and then re-chew it until it is easily digestible.
- Cows have teeth on both the top and bottom, but the top teeth are protected by a unique cushion. This is common for all ruminants, including goats and sheep, and it helps them chew their food properly.
- Eating cow tongues can actually be healthy. They have a lot of iron, zinc, and protein. For example, in 85 grams of cow tongue, there are about 16.4 grams of protein!
- In 2015, cows became the national animal of Nepal. Because of this, killing cows in Nepal is not allowed.
- Many Indian religions also prohibit killing cows for religious reasons. For example, Buddhists believe that saving animals and eating a plant-based diet would result in positive karma in the future life.
- Cows can see all around them because they have 300-degree vision.
- Cows have a strong sense of smell. They can smell things up to 6 miles away!
- Cows can sleep while standing, but they usually lie down to sleep.
- In New Zealand, there are around two cows for every person, with approximately 10 million cows and 5 million humans.
- When cows burp, they emit methane, which is harmful to the environment. Some farmers are trying to minimize methane emissions by feeding seaweed to their cows.
- Cows produce milk at different times. For example, milk at the end of the nursing phase contains less lactose and more protein.
- In some Indian states, such as Punjab and Haryana, there is a specific tax known as a cow cess. It is typically applied to luxury things, and the proceeds benefit stray cows and other animals.
- About 65% of leather items in the world are made from cow skin, and India is surprisingly one of the biggest producers.
- Every second Tuesday of July, people all over the world celebrate National Cow Appreciation Day to honor the importance of cows.
- Cow dung is an excellent organic fertilizer because it has important nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
- Cows eat natural foods like grasses, legumes, and alfalfa. These herbivores can eat about 24-26 pounds (11-12 kilograms) of food every day!
- Cows typically weigh less than bulls. Cows weigh between 800 and 2,400 pounds (363–1,088 kilograms), whereas bulls weigh between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds (454–1,814 kilograms).
- Cow’s milk is generally white, but it can seem yellowish if it has a high concentration of carotene, a natural pigment found in plants.
