Wow,

This went from cows to cars to the Dead...what's the connection, LOL.

I probaly know about cows than I dare admit...dad is still has some for hobby back home in Guatemala (his family has historically been "finqueros" for the last 150+ years). Spent way too many summers interacting with las Vacas.

And yes, they all have names, all cows have personalities and are overall just fun creatures.

Cows over time have been bred to provide us humans with specific by products or characteristics.

So, the Guernsey will have more butter fat in its milk than the Holstein...however, the Holstein can serve as a dual cow (that is can be dairy or beef) like the Brahamins. then again, people serious about dairy cattle want HUGE udders. So definitely the breeds who have these will be better dairy cows (Guernsey, Jersey, Brown Swiss, etc. etc.). An Angus who has been bred for beef is not a very good dairy cow, hence why they aren't used for that purpose.

If you milk by hand, you will find some cow's teat's are softer than others...generally, cows with black teats are softer than cows with pink teats.

Alfafa or grass? Well, the milk from an alfafa fed cow will taste different than "grass" (which grass are we talking about here?). However, you won't tell the difference if you purchase your milk that has been homogenized. The only way you will tell what the cow ate, is if you purchase raw milk and do some taste tests. My father likes to give his cows (who I guess would qualify as "organic" up here, as he does nothing to them artificial") black strap molasses...hence the milk is a tad sweeter. By the way, cows have a huge sweet tooth. Come by with some hard candy and they will want it.

Cow tongues are like cat tongues, have the rough surface. They also like to "pick their noses" with their tongue. It's so long that they can do it.

Cow pies from cows who only eat natural grass will not stink...in fact the "aroma" is not unplesant. Cow pies from cows who are on a feed diet will stink to high heaven.

As to cow "mating"...much like chickens, cows have certain mating "dances". An interested bull will come smell the cow's rear as she is finishing up a "number one", "drink" some of it and pull his upper lip back and show his teeth as he moves his head slowly from side to side. Dunno what this means, but usually right after that they mate in a very akward movement...looks akward to me, anyway.

Cows will allow chickens and egrets to pick off ticks off them. Hence, why you will see cows and egrets in fields all the time. Symbiotic relationship at its best. Chickens will also eat cow drool, but that is another topic...the secret lives of chickens, presented by yours truly.