If you consider cows, the very first thing that most likely involves thoughts is milk. The subsequent factor that most likely involves thoughts is the sound of cowbells.
However have you ever ever stopped to ask your self why we affiliate cows with the clanking sound of these bells? It’s a legitimate query…
Why do cows put on them within the first place?
Cows put on bells to assist a farmer find his cows at a distance, or present reassurance that they’re nonetheless close by. They might additionally assist an remoted or misplaced cow be discovered extra simply.
We’ll focus on extra of the the reason why cows put on bells, what sort of bells are sometimes used, and whether or not or not they’re dangerous or detrimental to cows in the remainder of this text.
Bells Assist Farmers Hold Tabs on Their Cows
The obvious motive cows put on bells is in order that farmers can maintain observe of them.
Cows will not be probably the most timid of creatures and so they have been recognized to wander away into the woods and even right into a neighbor’s area looking for meals.
Certain, they appear to be they simply stroll round sedately or stand blithely in a area more often than not, however cows are able to masking various distance in a short time.
One minute they’re there; the subsequent minute they’re out of sight and gone!
If a cow occurs to get misplaced, the sound of the bell will alert the farmer to its location so he can go and retrieve it.
That is particularly helpful on giant farms the place there could also be a whole lot of cows spread out over many acres.
That is doubly helpful within the occasion of unhealthy climate or a catastrophe the place cows would possibly turn out to be scared or disoriented and scattered.
Making an attempt to trace down a dozen stragglers heading to the 4 corners of the Earth over a big, open vary generally is a nightmare.
The clanking of a cowbell may be heard over a protracted sufficient distance to make zeroing in on them considerably simpler.
Bells additionally present reassurance to farmers that their cows are nonetheless close by.
If a farmer hears the sound of bells whereas he’s working about his farm, he is aware of that his cows haven’t wandered too far-off and are nonetheless shut by.
However when issues get quiet, too quiet, which means solely one among two issues: the cows are at relaxation or they’ve gone!
In abstract, cowbells are a easy however efficient method for farmers and farm arms to maintain observe of cows within the space.
Bells Can Additionally Warn of Charging Cattle!
Whereas the first function of cowbells is to assist farmers maintain observe of their cows, in addition they serve one other necessary function: They warn individuals who could be distracted {that a} cow is charging!
Most cows will not be considered naturally aggressive animals however they can be in the event that they really feel threatened, are defending younger or are startled.
Bulls, specifically, could also be territorial or assault anybody who comes close to. But when any cow with younger looks like she must act to defend herself or her calf, she could cost.
And when any 1200-pound animal is charging at you, the ensuing affect shouldn’t be going to be fairly.
The sound of a quickly clanging cowbell is a primitive however efficient early warning system that may alert close by folks that there’s a charging cow within the neighborhood.
Hopefully, this may give them time to get out of the best way!
That is particularly necessary for joggers, cyclists, and hikers who might not be anticipating to come across a cow on their stroll or experience, and likewise for employees on a farm who could be distracted with different duties on their every day rounds.
What Type of Bells do Cows Put on?
The kind of bell worn by a cow can rely upon the farmer’s desire or what is on the market.
An important issue is that the bell be loud sufficient to be heard at a distance, so bells manufactured from steel are normally most popular.
These bells will not be small jingle bells, however distinctly giant and outsized, with a correspondingly loud report.
Brass, bronze and iron are all frequent supplies used for making cowbells; every is sturdy and can face up to being banged in opposition to bushes, rocks and different obstacles that cows could encounter whereas grazing.
They need to even be of heavy building so as to withstand makes an attempt at scratching or rubbing on the bell or the collar that holds it.
Talking of collar, the collar that holds a cowbell is usually made out of heavy leather-based with a buckle closure, though some farmers would possibly go for a less expensive material or nylon model.
No matter sort is used the closure system should be safe sufficient to withstand incidental contact or removing, however comfortable sufficient that it doesn’t unduly irritate the cow carrying it.
Do Cowbells Damage or Worsen Cows?
Now that we’ve mentioned among the the reason why cows put on bells, you could be questioning if they’re dangerous to the cows in any method.
The brief reply isn’t any, cowbells will not be dangerous to cows. Correctly fitted and designed, they won’t injure the cow, or intrude with grazing.
In truth, most cows appear to take little discover of them as soon as they get used to carrying them.
That being stated, cowbells are heavy, and a few particular person animals appear to take a particular exception to carrying them.
In such instances, a farmer would possibly choose to take away the cowbell if it causes the animal undue stress.
Moreover, calves are hardly ever if ever given a cowbell as a result of their speedy fee of development would necessitate fixed adjustment of the collar, and moreover they are going to typically by no means be far sufficient away from their mom and the remainder of the herd that finding them is a trouble.
The one potential draw back to cowbells is that they are often fairly loud, particularly when there are a number of hundred cows all carrying them directly!
This could make it troublesome for farmers and employees on a dairy farm to speak with one another or hear different sounds.
Some folks specific concern that cows’ listening to might be affected by the fixed, high-decibel clanking of the bells they put on, however most research are inconclusive.
However in response to fixed (if misguided) concern from sure quarters sure farmers have began to experiment with quieter, lighter, digital “cowbells” that emit a periodic beeping sound or chime as an alternative of the standard, loud and continuous clanging noise.
These could also be a extra appropriate possibility for farms the place the noise degree is already fairly excessive, or as a remotely activated possibility to assist forestall lack of a herd or particular person cow.
Extra Cowbell!
In conclusion, cowbells are used as a method to assist farmers maintain tabs on their cows, in addition to warn folks of charging or oncoming cows.
They serve an necessary function on the farm, and are typically not dangerous to cows.
Whereas some farmers have taken to letting their herds roam with out bells, the standard steel cowbell remains to be a typical fixture on many farms.
