Yeah, I didn’t bother getting into the bit about how they don’t actually sleep standing up, when they sleep at all. In my experience, even horses aren’t as big on sleeping standing up as city people think.
And yeah, the herd would go wild if somebody pulled that stunt. The risk of the would be tippers gettin’ a stompin’ is pretty high.
Why would all 4.43 kids run from a cow?
There is also a huge difference between going cow tipping and actually tipping a cow.
I did the former, but never the latter.
Here is a link to an article from a few years ago, and here is a page that seems to break down the physics.
The conclusion of the second link is that two people could tip over a cow.
Of course this is only on paper, and is not taking into account the mood of said cow to being manhandled by a couple of frat boys.
I do not drink milk, and so I’ve never felt obligated to tip a cow.
[slight hijack]This will make sense if you have seen the movie “Cars”.
My 3 year old grandson was recently given a toy tractor to play with. He immediately set the tractor down on the table and went to get his “Mater” truck, so that he could tip the tractor over.[/slight hijack]
I grew up in the city. I’ve certainly seen a cow, and been around cows, but not extensively. At no point in my life did I ever consider that walking up and gently nudging a one ton animal would actually tip it over. This thread makes me think that there are some that believe just that? I don’t think living in the city is an excuse – do these people think that a gust of wind and an entire herd tips over?
Now, maybe I am too much of a city boy in that I do think that it’s possible for several people to tip a cow that’s not paying attention (dozing off, or whatever), but the basic physics of tipping huge objects does not suddenly become different. So my theories:
Theory #1
Two people on one side, two people on the other, start rhythmically swaying the cow, if the cow complies, increase amplitude until it tips over and crushes the people on the ‘losing’ side. If the cow falls on your side, you win, and the losers have to buy you a wheelchair.
Theory #2
Three people on side A, two people on side B. Side A starts gently pushing on the cow until the cow starts pushing back to maintain balance, slowly increasing force more and more. At some point somebody counts off 3,2,1… and side A stops pushing, and side B gives a cow a good shove, and side A jumps out of the way.
Theory #3
Dress up like Chairman Mao and command the cow to tip.
Heck, I’d settle for a video of a sleeping, standing cow. Cows sleep lying down, not standing up, making cow tipping even more of an urban legend.
Seriously, there are times when it is necessary to have a cow on its side ion order to provide medical/surgical care. It is not easy. When done for veterinary purposes, this is called casting the cow.
There are pics/descriptions of how to cast a cow on this page:
http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/calving/notes/abnormalcalving.htm
Like this?
Yeah, definitely, I’ve been there when a cow had to be held down, and it takes the focused work of a bunch of hard men. It’s not something a couple of louts with 10 beers in them can do for casual fun.
My theory is that many people are telling the truth in a way when they say that they have “witnessed” cow tipping. People tend to load up and go cow tipping when things aren’t quite right anyway. Some people have to stay behind at the fence while others go to tip the cow. A few minutes later, there are cattle noises, and cattle running, plus frat boys laughing and running back to the fence. Perhaps a a flashlight yields some chaose. The frat boys brag about tipping a cow or two and everyone there “remembers” it quite well over time.
[Mr. Pink]
"I don’t tip cows.
[/Mr. Pink]
I cannot see anyone tipping a cow, whether or not it’s possible. I don’t even understand the concept. What is the fun in playing a practical joke on an animal that you don’t even know, and one that won’t even “get” the joke? Are you supposed to laugh at the animal later on?
I think the point is that you convince others to do it so they get trampled by an irate woken up bison.
Maybe if you could get one to ride a little tricycle…
And wear a Fez. Everything is funnier with a fez.