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[OM] (OM) TOPE comment

Subject: [OM] (OM) TOPE comment
From: "Brian Swale" <bj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 09:47:33 +1200
Hi folks

I see Wayne Harridge asked re: "Dairy Farm in Suburbia", "Why do cows 
always face in the same direction?" (TOPE Landscape) Probably better to 
comment here than beneath the photo.

As far as I know it is a precursor to Social Security before Human Beans 
were invented. Sheep do the same.

You will usually find they all face up-wind. I.e. they have the wind in their 
face. That's all the better to smell predators coming from that direction. (So 
predators know to come from behind if they are to have a better chance for a 
successful attack)

If you are part of a group, it's better to stay together. By facing the same 
direction, the group does not disperse as it would if they all grazed in random 
directions. Moreover, they can maintain eye-contact and also quickly see if 
another is alarmed by one thing or another. Thus the herd behaves as a kind 
of network organism. There maybe other advantages too, such as all moving 
to un-grazed pasture minus fresh cow-pats together. Pre-fences, that is. Old 
habits die hard.    FWIW.  Brian

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