Fun facts about Cattle
Farmers and ranchers are no amateurs when it comes to raising cattle. They know their physical traits and their unique behaviors. However, we thought it would be fun to let you in on some of the interesting facts about cattle that you may not already know.
Fact #1: Cattle can see 330 degrees (panoramic vision).
Although they have weak eye muscles and cannot focus quickly, they have binocular vision and can spot predators quickly. They also have poor depth perception and lack of definition, making transportation a little more difficult since they will refuse to cross shadows and grates sometimes.
Fact #2: They like soothing music just like we do.
Cattle are very sensitive to loud noises and can end up stressed out. Playing soothing music helps them to calm down. Hearing is very important in their communication so it’s smart to keep the volume levels low around them.
Fact #3: Hierarchy is different in each breed.
For the most part, dominance is based on factors like weight, age and sex, but each breed deals with their place in the herd differently. For example, heavier dairy cattle are more dominant and hierarchy will constantly change when cows are added or removed. On the flip side, lighter beef cattle are the dominant ones. In large herds, there are multiple hierarchies found.
Fact #4: Cows chew… a lot!
A cow chews around 50 times in one minute. Since they are constantly grazing, that means their jaws move more than 40,000 times in one day! After all the eating and drinking, they produce 60 pounds of manure in one day. That’s a lot of cow pies (aka fertilizer).
Fact #5: The cattle population is declining, sadly.
Once a staple in almost every home in the 1850s, the total cattle in the United States today are at the lowest numbers they have been in more than 60 years. This is bad news for everyone considering we need cattle for food, dairy and fertilizer for crops.
If you’re a farmer or rancher looking for more land to expand your cattle herd, United Country Real Estate has farmland and ranchland for sale all across the United States and abroad. Visit www.UnitedCountry.com where you can search by location, property type and keyword(s).
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