"One cow in particular — her identification number was 2232 — was always in front of the herd, always one of the first three animals," Bailey said. "We used this cow to help us move less cooperative animals out of pastures."
He thinks cows that convey a sense of purpose and confidence often become leaders. Cows, unlike humans, are not subject to false bravado, so usually cattle confidence is founded on intelligence.
"Purposeful movement may result from knowledge of a good location to forage and as a result, may be a signal to other animals," Bailey said.
In future, Dumont and his colleagues hope to determine what specific movements, or other tactics, heifer leaders might use before instigating group movement.
Name: Domestic Cattle and Aurochs (
Bos taurus)
Primary Classification: Bovidae (Cattle and Relatives)
Location: Native to northern Africa, Europe and southern Asia.
Habitat: Temperate grassland, rangelands, desert, forest, chapparal and scrub.
Diet: Grasses, stems and other herbaceous plants.
Size: Up to 3,000 lbs in weight.
Description: Short hair varying from black to brown to white in color; short neck with dewlap below chin; two hollow horns; large, sturdy body; long, tufted tail.
Cool Facts: It consumes, on average, over 150 lbs of grass in a single eight-hour day. As part of the digestion process, it regurgitates and chews partially digested food.
Conservation Status: Domesticated
