Cows dot fields and pastures across many countries, and cow products are valued and consumed worldwide because their production of milk and meat isn't seasonal, as crops usually are. Therefore, when they’re eating food, they press their sharp bottom teeth against the top hard palate of their mouth to cut blades of grass.

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That generally results in six to seven usable embryos, but can produce as many as 80 or 90.

Without hormone treatment, a cow can only produce one embryo. Cows can see almost 360 degrees. 1.

A 2009 study from Newcastle University found that cows who are more comfortable around humans are less stressed when milked.

Subscribe for free activity sheets, fun puzzles, colouring pages, and more! 5. Here are 10 facts about cows you might not know, but probably should if you want to eat them! To learn more about Fancy Feast's Feastivites Advent Calendar, head on over to Chewy. A bullfighter could just as easily wave a pink or purple flag to get a bull to charge. (video), 6 Essential Kitchen Tools for Cooking Beef (& you probably already have them). 23. Her eggs then need to be fertilized, either naturally or through artificial insemination. Actually, it's nearly impossible.

This inquisitive nature is quickly broken after they are forced to live in terrible conditions and fed unnatural food. The U.S.’s cattle herd size is at its lowest level since 1952, and it is shrinking. Thanks.

Anyone who can read this and still consume meat/dairy is blind, apathetic to suffering or simply weak and selfish. They can even see red.

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17. The real reason matadors wear red: to hide the bull's blood. Like many other grazing animals, cows have one stomach which is divided into four compartments or chambers: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. Watch This Week in Agribusiness. The cow’s life has been taken from them against their will and often in gruesome and horrific ways. Cows live for 20-25 years. 7. When they're transferred to surrogates, herds gain more powerful and efficient cows, instead of the offspring the surrogates might produce on their own. I ate these wonderful creatures for 20 years and now I’m living with the guilt. So where do you stand? I only hope that nature will forgive me as I plan to live the rest of my life with no further contributions to suffering and cruelty. Get weekly beef recipes, cooking tips, and farm news. Head on over to the Mental Floss Store to see our entire collection. For the 2014 film, director Rob Marshall wanted to use a real, live cow instead of depending on CGI.