Be Utterly Amazing!

Cattle are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores.  Adult females are called cows and adult males are called bulls.  A female that has not had any offspring is called a heifer.  After giving birth to her first calf, a heifer becomes a cow.

All cattle, whether male or female, naturally have horns.  Cows might have smaller horns than bulls.  The only reason that you see cows without horns is due to dehorning.  Dehorning involves removing the horn bud on calves less than 2 months old.

Cows are quite intelligent animals and they can remember things for a long time.  They interact in socially complex ways and develop friendships over time.  They sometimes hold grudges against other cows who treat them badly.  Cows are generally friendly and approachable animals.  People who engage in healthy relationships with cows are impressed by their sensitivity, friendliness, and intelligence.

Cattle will make noises if they are hungry or stressed.  Calves that are separated from their mothers will bellow when they want to be fed.  Cattle that are put out in the pasture for the first time will sometimes make bellowing noises because they are fearful of a new situation. Cows cry by making loud, high-pitched wailing moos. The moo they use when they are distressed or upset is a distinct crying moo.  The moo they use to let humans know they need or want something is different from the moo they use when they are communicating with other cows. Cows also shed tears from their eyes like humans do. 

Cattle have thirty-two teeth. in total.  They first develop 20 temporary teeth known as baby teeth which eventually fall out and are replaced with 32 adult teeth as the animal matures. Cows don’t have any upper front teeth so they can’t bite you. The top of their mouth is a hard palate and their upper lip is relatively immodbile. 

Cows like being milked. Milking relieves the pressure caused by excess milk building up in their udders. Some cows will line up outside the milking parlour in anticipation. It is possible for over-filled udders to burst.  Adult cows don’t drink milk naturally, but on rare occasions some dairy farmers may allow their dairy cows to drink milk to boost their nutrients.

Cattle have a fear of unfamiliar objects, situations, smells, sudden movements and noises. They are fearful in situations where they are isolated or alone.  Their heart rate increases if they hear sounds of people yelling or whistling. Cattle point their ears towards things that concern them.  Using low pitched sounds helps to calm them. Cows enjoy music. There are many videos showing different musicians serenading cows.  It seems they are attracted to music because they tend to stay around, listen and appear to be quite absorbed in the music.

Here are a few more interesting facts about cows.  

1. Cows can doze lightly while standing up on their feet, but in order to sleep deeply they have to lie down.  

2. Cows are good swimmers too.  They take to the water naturally and seem to have little trouble swimming to the other side of a pond or stream.

3. Cows have a single heart divided into four sections.  Their heart is larger and more muscular than smaller mammals but this enables them to circulate blood around their massive bodies.

4. Cows can jump.  Not high enough to clear the moon as the nursery rhyme says, but many cows can jump as high as five feet.  A British cow was caught springing six feet up onto a roof.

These are the sayings on the bookmark called Advice from a Cow.

• Be Outstanding in Your Field

• Eat Plenty of Greens

• Take Time to Ruminate

• Know When to Hoof it

• Milk Good Opportunities

• It’s OK to be a Little Moo-dy

• Be Utterly Amazing!

Here are my comments about each of these statements.

• Be Outstanding in Your Field - What is your area of expertise?  What makes you stand out?  Why would people want to follow you? 

• Eat Plenty of Greens - Eat a healthy diet.

• Take Time to Ruminate - Ruminate - chew your cud.  Take time to think things through.

• Know When to Hoof it - Know when it is time to leave.  Don’t overstay your welcome.

• Milk Good Opportunities - Try new things.

• It’s OK to be a Little Moo-dy - Be in a good mood.

• Be Utterly Amazing! - Utterly or Udderly? - Udder is a noun while utter is an adjective. Udderly is a really bad pun but I bet it made your smile!  I did.

Have a great day everyone.  Take action and Be Udderly Amazing!

# living life abundantly   # published author    # travelling tuesdays