Spend enough time around cows and you'll run into the occasional friendly individuals who let you pet, rub, scratch etc. And if you give them the chance, those friendly cows may even try to lick you. If you haven't felt a cow's tongue, it's pretty rough, and can be uncomfortable having a 1200+ lb animal rough up your skin with a scratchy tongue! So why do they do it? Mainly, … [Read more...] about Why Do Cows Lick Humans?
Cattle Behavior
How to Get a Cow Back in the Pasture
Sometimes I have nightmares about fences down, cows getting out, and chasing cows around trying to get them back in the pasture. The first few times cattle got out on our farm were pretty stressful. It doesn't happen as often these days, but a cow or calf still does get out now and then. We've learned over the years that these problems can be minimized, and when they happen, it … [Read more...] about How to Get a Cow Back in the Pasture
What to Do if a Cow Charges You
We've had a small herd of beef cattle for nearly a decade now, and I've never been seriously injured by one. In fact, I can only remember a single incident where things came close to getting serious, and it wasn't really the cow's fault. But for folks less familiar with cattle, the question comes up: what do I do if a cow or bull charges me? From folks who have experience … [Read more...] about What to Do if a Cow Charges You