# cow question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394 "2005-01-12T15:15:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/21 "2005-01-13T15:19:39Z")
If you were putting off something " 'til the cows come home," well, it’s time. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/22 "2005-01-13T15:49:23Z")
While they’re notorious for their methane production, I doubt a cow fart is something even they ever get used to. One of them had probably just cut a nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/23 "2005-01-13T16:50:21Z")
Believe it or not, most of the methane that a cow produces comes out of the other end — her mouth, as belches. It’s just the way her multiple stomachs operate that the path of least resistance is in that direction. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/24 "2005-01-13T16:54:58Z")
[Cow rumen and the dangers of global warming.](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_8_58/ai_82554146) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/25 "2005-01-13T17:53:48Z")
I was once driving on the Big Island of Hawaii, and happened to notice a herd of cattle in a pasture by the roadside, all staring in the direction of the road. I pulled over and took their picture; it looks like every one of them is posing for the camera. I have absolutely no idea what they were staring at. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/26 "2005-01-14T01:11:59Z")
I love cows. They’re completely cool. 🆒 I think about that when I eat a cheeseburger, and say “thank you, cows”. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/27 "2005-01-14T02:41:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I was once driving on the Big Island of Hawaii, and happened to notice a herd of cattle in a pasture by the roadside, all staring in the direction of the road. I pulled over and took their picture; it looks like every one of them is posing for the camera. I have absolutely no idea what they were staring at. Yeah, why do they all stand facing the same direction? Is it inertia from the earlier running in the same direction (explained above)? ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/28 "2005-01-14T19:59:30Z")
> [@Flipshod](#): > > Yeah, why do they all stand facing the same direction? Is it inertia from the earlier running in the same direction (explained above)? It was always explained to me…warning this may have been old farmers funnin’ the younster…that when they are just standing around resting, they will put the wind at their backs/rear ends. Watch for predators in one direction and let the scent of predators alert them from the other. -rainy ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/29 "2005-01-14T20:07:29Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > It was always explained to me…warning this may have been old farmers funnin’ the younster…that when they are just standing around resting, they will put the wind at their backs/rear ends. Watch for predators in one direction and let the scent of predators alert them from the other. > > -rainy Maybe, but I doubt it. Because when the predator gets out of it’s car and walks up to the fence, the cows will often come over for a visit. And that may be just what they’re watching for. A handful of nice green grass from “The Other Side Of The Fence”. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/30 "2005-01-14T20:15:22Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Maybe, but I doubt it. > Because when the predator gets out of it’s car and walks up to the fence, the cows will often come over for a visit. > And that may be just what they’re watching for. A handful of nice green grass from “The Other Side Of The Fence”. Well, they usually don’t regard people as predators. But a little dog will sure get a herds attention – especially the cows with young calves. I’ve read that deer bed in the same wind orientation manner. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/31 "2005-01-14T20:35:54Z")
(I was just “funnin’ the youngster”) 🆒 I think cows in and around urban areas are far less timid than those in largely rural areas. _Please_ ask me to explain why that might be. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/32 "2005-01-14T21:00:30Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > (I was just “funnin’ the youngster”) 🆒 > I think cows in and around urban areas are far less timid than those in largely rural areas. > _Please_ ask me to explain why that might be. 😉 Please, mangeorge, tell us why that might be! ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394/33 "2005-01-14T23:52:32Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > Please, mangeorge, tell us why that might be! Gonna call me on it, are ya? First, [aww](http://animals.timduru.org/view/cow,CowPainting-Coverl%7e1.jpg). On to the question; City kids tend to give cows handfulls of grass and flowers, and go googoo over the totally cute, big eyed critters (see “aww”, above. But country boys shoot 'em with BB guns and throw rocks, etc. But worse than that is that _stool_ they bring with them… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-question/284394.md?page=1)