The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: humphreymctush on March 10, 2011, 11:01:51 am
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Could someone please post a concise Cow/English dictionary interpreting the various movements and postures that cows do and how they reflect the mood, preferences and intentions of the animal?
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If I was to answer for both my cows, both answers would be entirely different! Their personalities are very different.
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All five of my dogs have different personalities, as do all my hens and ducks, but they do seem to have some body language in common within their species that I can sometimes read if I am looking carefully. Sorry can't help with cows though. I just googled and found this if it's any help
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article29.htm (http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article29.htm)
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I have three highland cattle - two are friendly and one is not so - the boys are the friendly ones, so not sure what that says about them as a breed, or even if this is standard cattle behaviour! However, the thing I have learnt about them is that they can all be unpredictable - I have to keep my wits about me because of the horns :o!
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There isnt a guide, you have to work with them and learn there personalities. I worked on my parents dairy farm with 300+ cows and young stock no 2 where the same.
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Now here's an opportunity for some-one - a thesis on bovine behaviour anyone? ;)
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Tell you what though, my dogs can read my body language a helluva lot better than I can read theirs ::) ;)
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Oh yeh, can't they just :dog: :dog: :dog: - just the thing for the miserable wet cold weather - Setter Snuggle anyone? :D
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Being flight/prey animals I should think its much the same as horses :)
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Being flight/prey animals I should think its much the same as horses :)
Na-ah-AH! A cow will give you a warning by shaking its head at you, maybe lowing. If it's pawing the ground, you are being told!
A horse will give you a warning by turning its bum to you, threatening a kick. If a cow is gonna kick you its FAST! And no warning!
Both species flatten their ears back to show displeasure. A cow will swish her tail to show displeasure; I can't think I've ever seen a horse swish its tail for any reason other than the removal of flies.
Horses can rear in aggression, cattle don't.
Cattle don't bite in aggression, horses do.
This is fun - sheep don't kick and warn by stamping their front foot, and swish their tails to distribute their little poo pellets...
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Na-ah-AH! A cow will give you a warning by shaking its head at you, maybe lowing. If it's pawing the ground, you are being told!
A horse will give you a warning by turning its bum to you, threatening a kick. If a cow is gonna kick you its FAST! And no warning!
Both species flatten their ears back to show displeasure. A cow will swish her tail to show displeasure; I can't think I've ever seen a horse swish its tail for any reason other than the removal of flies.
Horses can rear in aggression, cattle don't.
Cattle don't bite in aggression, horses do.
This is fun - sheep don't kick and warn by stamping their front foot, and swish their tails to distribute their little poo pellets...
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horses arent that stereotypical. it depends on what herd status they think they have with u. if a horse is being trained and isnt happy, it will toss its head and shake its neck. if it starts to relax and think, it will begin to chew/lick it lips. a dominant horse would more likely to strike out with its front legs, stamp on u or push into ur space, a defensive horse will turn its quarters and kick. a tail carriage in a horse is a big signal to how it is feeling. a clamped tailed will signal disharmony in some area, whether with its handler or fieldmates. a horse in physical or mental conflict whilst being ridden will swish its tail an awful lot.
my calves gave plenty of kicks whilst 1st being handled, but most were slow warnings, and could easily have got me if they meant it.
iv also had a few kicks off sheep, tho may be have been mid-flight , sheep clamp their tails when under alarm whilst goats raise there tail.
:cow: :horse: :goat: :sheep:
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"If a cow is gonna kick you its FAST!"
Not as fast as my mules! ;) ;D
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i think what ever the species, if they really mean it, they get u spot on! :wave:
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You could try reading "The Secret Life of Cows" by Rosamund Young.