How in the world folks get paid for doing these studies is beyond me, but it makes for some interesting reading, that's for sure !
Cows Always Face North Or South While Eating
Most people don’t give much thought to grazing cows, but when a team of scientists went through thousands of Google Earth’s satellite images of cows, they stumbled upon a detail that we have missed for millennia: Cows will stand along the Earth’s magnetic poles—facing north and south—whenever they’re grazing or resting. The pattern remained consistent regardless of wind or other factors, and nobody’s quite sure why.
While some animals are known to contain an internal compass, this is the first time it’s been found in a large mammal. Another weird thing is that the nearer they are to the poles, the less accurate they get with the orientation. Scientists don’t know if the phenomenon is related to navigation or some miscalculated attempt at warding off predators, though it appears that it may have a purpose because of the consistency with which it was observed among cows across six continents. The phenomenon may have an effect on agricultural production, as cows made to stay in an east-west orientation must be affected in some way, though nobody can say how.
Now I have to admit that I find this stuff interesting, but in the long run...I really don't care! Makes no difference to me at all which direction the cows are facing as they eat, ya know ? However, when I found this article on Listverse, I thought it was worth sharing with you folks.
Coffee out on the patio, I think. We may have to move back inside quickly, so be ready!
