Lets Protect Our GouMaatha

It is necessary that each cow has sufficient physical space in the cow shelter. A new entrant into the shelter takes 24 to 72 hours to get used to the new environment. • The cow’s size and age decide the leader in the cow herd. • The cow is quite an understanding animal beyond our imagination. • Even if she is slow in her movements, and appears almost lethargic at times, she adjusts to her new environment very quickly. • Cow has a very sharp memory; she recognizes and never makes a mistake in identifying the other cows in the herd and also the cowherd. • Cow can recognize her calf’s voice, and the calf too recognizes its mother. If the calf dies or is separated from her off spring, she will grieve and wail. • Cow sleeps for about four to five hours, but after grazing / feeding she rests sitting down

If the cow is ill or uncomfortable, or if there are more cows than the capacity of the shelter, then she puts her tongue out frequently, tries to climb over other cows or even attacks humans. • If she is given more fodder or is bored with that fodder, she throws out the fodder from her mouth and starts throwing the fodder around. • The movement of her tail indicates many of her feelings, for example, she raises her tail when urinating. If she is scared, she tucks her tail between her hind legs. During her monthly periods she lifts her tail every once in a while. She uses her tail to remove foreign material on her body like sand and flies. She also expresses her displeasure by moving her tail around. • When resting, she prefers to keep her stomach level with the ground and her head held in a higher position.

Cow has a good memory. She gets disturbed if she is forcibly shifted to another place and takes a long time to get used to the new situation. It also increases the chances of her falling and getting hurt. • It is not necessary to shove or push her, she easily walks if she is made to go in the direction she likes and is allowed 31 to walk at her natural speed. She never makes an effort to overtake others in the herd. • Cow does not express her pains openly and therefore it is necessary to understand the unexpressed pains and aches the cow experiences. For example, when the cow is in pain, she

It is very important for the personnel working in the cow shelters to understand the behavior of cows. They should keep the following factors in mind. • The cow can use all its five senses. She has her own way of understanding the individual in front of her. She comprehends the best when the person approaches her from the front. She tries to recognize the person by bending her head. She does not like anyone approaching her from the side. • Cow likes daylight and likes to stay in places where there is daylight. If you keep her in a dark area, she will make efforts to move towards daylight. • Cow does not like heavy loud voices, gets disturbed with sudden unfamiliar noises, unfamiliar smell and sudden movements around her. • Cow has a keen sense of smell. She keeps away from the smell of urine and cow dung; therefore, care should be taken to keep the cow in a clean environment. • Cow can experience only four types of taste but this sense is keen: sweet, salty, bitter and pungent.