10 Random Things About Cows

For anyone who does not know, I live on a farm.

A cow farm specifically.  I thought you might like to know ten random things about cows.  Why?  You never know when small talk will be called for at a party or conference.  The conversation will surely lag at some point and you can then trot out your cow info and impress the crowd.  So, here are ten random things about cows.

1.  Hay and straw are two different things.  Cows eat hay.  They do not eat straw.  Ever.  Straw is used for stalls, landscaping, displaying with pumpkins and autumn decor but not for eating....by anything.

2.  Cows can eat up to 90 pounds of food per day.

3.  Cows can drink between 25-50 gallons of water daily.

4.  Cows (like myself) eat on and off all day.  They "graze."

5.  A full grown cow weighs about 1500 pounds (or as we used to tell school kids, the same as about 30 kids)

6.  Calves weigh about 80 pounds when born.

7.  Milk is measured in pounds.  1 gallon equals about 8 pounds.

8.  Dairy cows give an average of 60 pounds of milk daily.

9.  Aside from hay, cows eat corn silage, haylage, grain, grass and roasted soy beans in addition to minerals as needed.

10.  And finally, contrary to popular belief, black/brown cows do not give chocolate milk (as city kids have been known to ask...makes me think there are not enough children's farm books out there.)

Now you have 10 amazing random facts about cows to share with friends and relatives.  They will be amazed with your knowledge and you will be the belle of whatever party you may be invited to.

(My appreciation to whichever of my relatives snapped the above pictures; I have many and don't know who took what....I just know it wasn't me!)

OH AND CONGRATS TO MALINDA MARCHETTI FOR WINNING

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