Farming Facts: 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Cows
Dotted among the fields and rolling green hills, cows are a familiar sight across the length and breadth of the UK. But how much do you really know about these sociable animals?
Do cows really have four stomachs? Can they have best friends? And why are they always chewing? We’ve rounded up some fun (family-friendly) cow facts that might just surprise you about everyone’s favourite farmyard animal.
How many of these cow facts did you already know?
Cows Have a Special Way of Digesting Grass
Despite the longstanding rumour, cows don’t actually have four stomachs - but they have one stomach with four compartments. Grass and vegetation is hard to digest, so cows have an incredible system that allows them to eat plants that many other animals can’t.
The first compartment is the rumen. It holds the chewed food with bacteria and other microorganisms to help digestion. Cows can regurgitate and re-chew food before it passes on, which is why cows are often seen ‘chewing cud’, for an average of eight hours a day.
From there, the chewed food goes through the reticulum and omasum, which act as filters before arriving at abomasum - the ‘true’ stomach - where it’s finally digested.
Cows Are Cleverer Than Many People Think
While they’re not renowned for their cleverness, cows are much smarter than many give them credit for.
As highly social creatures, cows learn from each other. Lessons in how to find the best grazing and resting places and navigate through their environment are passed down through the generations. Research has even shown that they can use their spatial memory to solve complex mazes and remember the solutions six weeks later.
And, contrary to popular perception, they don’t even need humans to survive. A once-farmed herd of cows in Chornobyl proved that they can get along just fine without us.
Cows Can Have Favourite Friends
Just like most herd animals, cattle are very social creatures and have complex group hierarchies. When you get to know them, cows even have their own personalities. Some are bolder and more curious, ready to explore and take the lead. Some are shy and stay behind the rest of the herd, happy to let their friends take the lead.
In the herd, you’ll also find close friendships. Cows often have social partners that they keep close to, groom more often, and sleep nearby. Just like humans, these social bonds are an important part of their general well-being.
Cows Have an Incredible Sense of Smell
Given the usual smell of a farmyard, you might be surprised to hear this cow fact: cattle have a keen nose. This helps them understand their surroundings, search for food and warn them of potential predators to avoid danger.
Researchers found that cows were able to identify different complex odours and showed a preference for certain smells. And just like humans, coffee proved a big hit. Cows can also pick up scent from many miles away. It’s also been shown that herd hierarchy is linked to smell, the social order of a herd remains the same when blindfolded, showing just how much cows use their sense of smell to understand their surroundings.
Tapnell Farm Has Its Own Cow Story
Our favourite cow fact? It might be that our humble farm once held the largest herd of dairy cows on the Isle of Wight. The Turney Family took over Tapnell Farm in 1982, which at its peak milked over 800 cows every day of the year. That’s 24,000 litres of fresh milk!
While we no longer milk cows at Tapnell, we honour our farming heritage and beloved cattle with the Wight Herd. These life-size model cows are dotted about, proudly wearing the bright colours that reflect many of the Island’s local events, businesses and people. It’s a little taste of the creativity and colour that makes the Isle of Wight such a special place.
Discover More Farm Fun at Tapnell Farm
Hopefully, these cow facts have given you a little taste of just how amazing cattle are - and now it’s time to meet them! Come and say hi to some of our local herd at the animal barn and paddocks. Learn more about these surprisingly fascinating animals then turn it into a full on adventure of family fun.
Tapnell Farm is an all-weather extravaganza. A farm park, aqua park, football and frisbee golf, padel and pickleball, go-karts, straw barn play, trim trails, sledge slides and so much more. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes and stunning sea views, you’ll find everything you need for an amazing weekend away.
Plan Your Visit to Tapnell Farm
Come down to Tapnell Farm to meet our amazing herd and make a full day of our all-weather family fun. Take a look at all amazing Things To Do at Tapnell.