Page 129 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

Industry Focus

Building our understanding of how

cows see the world

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPHS HELEN THODAY, ANIMAL CARE TEAM MANAGER, DAIRYNZ
EVER WONDERED WHAT YOUR COWS are thinking as they Research shows that cows share the same brain physiology
line up and watch you open the gate? as humans and experience pain similar to us. However, as
When you’re spending a lot of time on a farm working closely a prey animal, they don’t show it. We have seen changes to
with a few other people, understanding how they think usually practices on-farm that reflect this new understanding. For
makes it easier to get along. example, regulations banning tail shortening and requiring the
Many farmers also see their herd as part of their team, and use of local anaesthetic for disbudding have been introduced.
being able to see the world from a cow’s point of view allows us Positively, we are also seeing a greater use of pain relief for
to work with them more easily. conditions such as lameness and down cows.
In the past decade, new research on cows has appeared We’ve come a long way in improving our understanding of
thick and fast. But we have known of some of the basics about cows. As the research grows, we will keep improving our on-
cows’ senses of sight, sound, smell, touch and taste for a long farm practices to ensure New Zealand continues to be a world
time. leader in animal care.
Cows have a much wider field of vision than we do, because
their eyes are located on the side of their heads, which is vital
for a prey animal. However, this also leads to poor depth MANY FARMERS ALSO SEE THEIR HERD
perception. A shaded race can appear like a black hole to a
cow, so they need time to check it out before walking through it. AS PART OF THEIR TEAM, AND BEING
Cows may also see a danger that isn’t threatening to a predator ABLE TO SEE THE WORLD FROM A
species like humans, but could be scary to a prey animal, like a COW’S POINT OF VIEW ALLOWS US TO
flapping bag on a fence.
Cows are sensitive to smells we can’t detect. They can WORK WITH THEM MORE EASILY.
smell signals from scent when stressed cows urinate. This can
happen during stressful interactions like vaccinations or poor
handling. Recent New Zealand research shows cows are quick RESEARCH SHOWS THAT COWS
to smell and taste when a water trough has been contaminated SHARE THE SAME BRAIN PHYSIOLOGY
with bird or cow poo and they will either stop drinking or drink
less. This is something to keep an eye on over summer so cows AS HUMANS AND EXPERIENCE PAIN
don’t become dehydrated. SIMILAR TO US. HOWEVER, AS A PREY
Humans enjoy massage, and interestingly, cows will also ANIMAL, THEY DON’T SHOW IT.
seek out cow brushes for a scratch. The use of automated
cow brushes is becoming much more common in Europe. In
paddocks that don’t have objects cows can scratch against, THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Understanding cow senses can help
they are a good option. With a bit of Kiwi ingenuity, they can us manage cows on farm; Cows enjoy using brushes in the same
even be made on-farm. way we enjoy a massage.

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