You probably don’t spend every day around cows. It’s ok to admit it!
Did you know that on average, dairy cows produce 23,000 pounds of milk per year? So you can hang with the experts, here are 10 surprising cow facts.
Dairy Cow Facts
Like humans, cows have 32 teeth. However, most of their teeth are on the lower jaw, the top jaw comprised primarily of a dental pad. Because of this dental pad, cows do not bite grass but curl their tongue around it.
Is someone making dinner? Don’t be too surprised if the local herd knows what’s cooking. Cows have an excellent sense of smell, known to detect odors five miles away.
Like humans, cows are social animals who form friendships, spending much of their time with a small group of friends. They also hold grudges for years and dislike other cows in the herd. Who knew cows could be so stubborn?
Cows spend 8 hours a day eating and digesting. Although, instead of enjoying an extended buffet every day, cows are slowly digesting their food between meals.
Cows are red/green colorblind. Shades that cows can see are subdued. Highly contrasting colors are known to startle cows, so buildings and equipment should be similar or complementary shades.
The average cow sleeps about four hours a day.
Cows hear both lower and higher frequency sounds than humans are capable of hearing. Do they know things we don’t?
You can lead a cow, but they might not follow you back. Cows can walk up a flight of stairs, but they can’t walk back down. Their knees don’t bend the correct way for that!
Cows have a single stomach, but four different digestive compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. Due to their four-chambered digestive system, cows can convert plants into nutritious milk.
A Holstein’s spots are like a fingerprint. Cows never have the same pattern of black and white spots as another. This just proves how special cows really are.
More Information on Dairy Cows
Are you looking to learn more interesting cow facts and/or other information about dairy products and nutrition? Read these 7 Surprising Dairy Cow Facts. You can also browse our website to learn more about dairy cattle in the United States.
For more information or questions, contact The Dairy Alliance anytime.