When we think about cows (whenever that may be) we think about simple, docile creatures. We can thank these beautiful bovines for many things: cream for our coffee, butter for our toast, cheese for our pizza to name just a few. But there’s more to these animals than meets the eye.
It is said that cows are as diverse as cats, dogs, and even humans: some are quick learners while others are a bit slower. Some are bold and adventurous, while others are shy and timid. Some are friendly and considerate, while others are bossy and devious.
According to research, cows are generally quite intelligent animals who can remember things for a long time. Animal behaviorists have found that they interact in socially complex ways, developing friendships over time and sometimes holding grudges that can last for life against other cows (or people) who treated them badly.
The word ‘cattle’ comes from the old French word ‘chattle’, which means possession. The English language has several words to describe cows at various ages. A baby cow is called a calf. A female calf is sometimes called a heifer calf and a male a bull calf. A heifer is a female that has not had any offspring. After giving birth to her first calf, however, a heifer becomes a cow. An adult male is known as a bull.
Research has shown that cows can clearly understand cause-and-effect relationships. For example, they can learn how to push a lever to operate a drinking fountain when they’re thirsty or to press a button with their heads to release grain when they’re hungry. Researchers have found that cows not only can figure out problems but also enjoy the intellectual challenge and get excited when they find a solution.
Cows were first domesticated between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago by the Chinese from the aurochs, a species of wild cattle that once ranged across Eurasia. The wild aurochs became extinct in the early 1600s.
A herd of cows is very much like a pack of wolves (minus the fangs of course), with alpha animals and complex social dynamics. Each animal can recognize 50 or more members of the herd, and relationships are very important to cows. Like people, they prefer to spend time with certain individuals and develop strong relationships with them. They’re essentially more relaxed and content around their best friend.
They consistently choose leaders who have good social skills and are intelligent, inquisitive, self-confident, and experienced – while pushiness, selfishness, a large size, and brawniness are not recognized as suitable leadership qualities. (Maybe we humans have something to learn from cows in this regard)
There are more than 450 different cattle breeds in the world and, according to the US Department of Agriculture, as of 2022 the number of cows worldwide is over 1.5 billion. This means there’s approximately five people for every cow on Earth. Uruguay has the most cows per person at 3.45 cows per person, followed closely by New Zealand at 2.10 cows per person.
In 2021, India had the highest cattle population of 305+ million. Hindus in India do not consider the cow to be a god and they do not worship it. Hindus are vegetarians and they do consider the cow to be a sacred symbol of life that should be protected and revered. In the Vedas, the oldest of the Hindu scriptures, the cow is associated with Aditi, the mother of all the gods. It represents Mother Earth, as it is a source of goodness, and its milk nourishes all creatures.
Unlike humans, cattle have panoramic vision, which means they can see almost all the way around themselves without moving their heads. Their depth perception, however, is only focused in a small forward view. This means that, while a cow might be able to see you standing at its side, it cannot necessarily judge how close or far away you actually are. This may explain why a cow can be startled when approached, even if you have been in its field of vision for some time.
While it is definitely funny to imagine a sleeping cow falling over with just a gentle shove, cow tipping isn’t that easy. Actually, it’s nearly impossible. Cows sleep lying down (did you know that cows only sleep about 4 hours per day?) and, since they can detect scents up to 6 miles away, it’s pretty hard to sneak up on them. They’re never really blissed-out enough to allow a stranger to get close enough to touch them. And then there’s their sheer size. Cows are massive – on average 1500 pounds (680 kg) – and they balance their weight on all four legs.
And be careful out there because cows are killers. A 2012 study published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine found that cattle cause an average of 22 deaths per year. Sharks, on the other hand, kill about six people per year. Perhaps SyFy should have made “Cownado” instead.
So, what is the point of all this you may be asking. Well, recently we came across some pictures of “butter cows” and were amused. These are life-size sculptures of cows made out of butter which, we’re told, are still main attractions at state fairs across the Midwestern United States.
At the beginning of the 20th century, butter was making its way from a cottage to a cooperative industry. New creameries and dairy councils needed an alluring way to advertise their product. Meanwhile, the up-and-coming refrigeration industry also needed an eye-capturing way to expose the masses to their innovations. It wasn’t long before exhibits started popping up across middle America, where butter cows promoted the dairy industry and showcased the latest electrical refrigeration technology in glass-walled cooling chambers.
The first butter cow appeared in 1903 at the Ohio State Fair, becoming an annual tradition. In Iowa, butter cows have been a main attraction at the state fair since 1911, sculpted by such famed artists as Norma “Duffy” Lyon, also known as the “Butter Cow Lady.”
Butter cows usually weigh in at around 600 pounds, about half as much as their living counterparts. Artists apply low-moisture butter to a wood, metal, wire, and steel mesh frame, and carve in a 40-degree refrigerated room over the course of several days. Each year a new butter cow takes center stage at state fairs, usually made using the butter from last year’s sculpture. According to the artists, the butter gets better the more it’s worked, and one sculpture’s butter can be reused for up to 10 years. In other words, mooo-ve over, nine-lived cats, this cow’s reincarnation has you beat.
Don’t let their buttery appearances fool you for, in the grand tapestry of life, cows emerge, unexpectedly, as the unsung philosophers of the pasture. They are connoisseurs of complexity. Beneath those serene bovine eyes and behind those seemingly placed expressions lie secrets as diverse as the universe itself. They form friendships, hold grudges, and elect leaders based on qualities like intelligence and social finesse – a lesson that us humans could take to heart.
We thought the irony of making a full-sized cow out of the very product for which it produces the raw material was pretty damn creative. But we thought it might be a bit brief for a full blog post. And, after a little research, we found that, beyond butter – cows are udderly fascinating! So, we decided to wrap the butter cow story around a closer look at what is, arguably, one of our most delicious, domesticated friends.
Wow, I’ve never thought of cows as intelligent, because they will follow each other over a cliff, or so I thought. Or maybe it’s just Buffalo’s.
And it’s a bit disgusting to learn that they keep reusing butter in the sculptures!!! Yuck!
I have been to a fair with a butter cow (it’s an odd situation visiting with an owner, who was proud of the sculpture) and it didn’t smell very good.
Now it seemed a bit cruel to end with the delicious prime rib roast! Not because I am a PETA member, but because I now want a piece of prime rib, rare and delicious, but that’s another story!