We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about the cow, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about one of the world’s most important animals that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: A Gallon of Milk Requires 350 Squirts From an Udder. It’s true! A single cows’ udder has to be squeezed around 350 times just to make one gallon of milk. Think about that the next time you have your morning cereal.
Number Seven: Happy Cows Make More Milk. One study found that farmers who name their cows and treat them like they’re real beings, they can produce up to 500 more pints of milk every year. Looks like cows are more sensitive than we thought.
Number Six: They Use a Magnetic Compass. Cows tend to face the magnetic north pole or the magnetic south pole while they graze and rest. They do this regardless of the weather or position of the sun, and it’s unclear why this behavior is so universal.
Number Five: They Develop Complicated Friend Groups. Cows are very capable of befriending each other, and they get stressed out when they’re separated from their friends. Researchers have found that separating cows from their companions can increase their cortisol levels and heart rates.
Number Four: They Can’t See Red. It’s a commonly perpetuated myth that matadors wave red flags in front of cows because they’re drawn to the color red; however, cows can’t even see the color red! The bulls are attracted to the movement of the flag, not the color.
Number Three: They Can Smell Something Six Miles Away. Cows have a well-developed sense of smell, and they can sense a single odor from up to six miles away. You might think cows stink, but they probably think you smell worse!
Number Two: They Have Incredible Vision. Cows have a range of vision that spans 300 degrees, and they only have two blind spots – one in front of them, and another behind them. This makes it incredibly difficult to sneak up on a cow.
Number One: They Can Cost Millions of Dollars. The most expensive cow of all time is named Missy, and she was auctioned off in 2009 for a whopping $1.2 million! We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 things you didn’t know about cows!