Re: [OM] (OM) TOPE comment

[Winsor Crosby]

> At 9:47 AM +1200 4/21/02, Brian Swale wrote:
>
> > I see Wayne Harridge asked re: "Dairy Farm in Suburbia", "Why do cows
> > always face in the same direction?" (TOPE Landscape) Probably better to
> > comment here than beneath the photo.
> >
> > As far as I know it is a precursor to Social Security before Human Beans
> > were invented. Sheep do the same.
> >
> > You will usually find they all face up-wind. I.e. they have the wind in their
> > face. That's all the better to smell predators coming from that 
> > direction. (So
> > predators know to come from behind if they are to have a better chance for a
> > successful attack)
> >
> > If you are part of a group, it's better to stay together. By facing the same
> > direction, the group does not disperse as it would if they all 
> > grazed in random
> > directions. Moreover, they can maintain eye-contact and also quickly see if
> > another is alarmed by one thing or another. Thus the herd behaves as a kind
> > of network organism. There maybe other advantages too, such as all moving
> > to un-grazed pasture minus fresh cow-pats together. Pre-fences, that is. Old
> > habits die hard.    FWIW.  Brian
> I guess around here the cows have too many generations of predator-free living
> behind them. They tend to face in whatever direction they please, 
> maybe little bit aligned with their nearest neighbors but pretty 
> random over a field. Horses tend to align more, since if a predator 
> came they would actually be able to do something about it.
> paul   guess I'm going to have to go out and get proof
>
> --
> Paul Wallich                                            pw@xxxxxxxxx
I have noticed that flocks of seagulls on the beach usually face into 
the wind too. I had supposed that it is efficient because they are 
streamlined and a blast of icy wind up the tailfeathers is not so 
pleasant.  I would imagine that streamlining does not have much to do 
with a cow, but the other part might apply.
--
Winsor Crosby
Long Beach, California

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