4 ms·

can you really compare cows to octopuses? are there even wild cows?

by gfody 5y ago

AngryData 5y ago
The wild ancestor of cows is extinct, so technically they would all be feral cows, but there are places where feral cows have ran around for a few generations alone that you might consider wild. However their extensive past breeding still brings into question their actual intelligence and cognitive abilities compared to their wild ancestor, most animals inadvertently are bred to be significantly dumber during domestication because they are the easiest to handle and control.
ajsnigrutin 5y ago
there are wild goats, and the goats on a farm live pretty much the same life as cows do.
mtoohig 5y ago
Where I am in Vanuatu in the south Pacific we have wild cows in the bush. Originally, these cows would have been domestic but escaped and they raise their young in the bush and now people hunt wild cows. Cows are usually kept by a rope around their neck tied to a tree and every couple days move the cow to a new area to let them access fresh vegetation. There are also some big plantations for coconuts and these usually have cows which if they break a fence will allow many to escape into the bush and hills. People here use a dozen or so dogs to sniff out wild animals in the bush and chase them down until they tire enough for the hunters to catch up and spear the animal. These hunting parties can take days of hanging out and following the dogs or just one if lucky. Then carrying home giant cuts of meat is the hard part which often requires the hunting party to leave a lot of fresh meat behind.
- leobg 5y ago
  I didn’t know Vanuatu was actually that big. It looks like just that thin strip of land on the map. BTW, I just find it fascinating to be talking to someone from Vanuatu here. HN rocks.
cheese_goddess 5y ago
I think the gaur is a legitimately "wild cow" (wild bovine anyway): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaur I don't think it's a feral breed, coming from once domesticated animals, but I may be wrong.

can you really compare cows to octopuses? are there even wild cows?

by gfody 5y ago

can you really compare cows to octopuses? are there even wild cows?

The wild ancestor of cows is extinct, so technically they would all be feral cows, but there are places where feral cows have ran around for a few generations alone that you might consider wild. However their extensive past breeding still brings into question their actual intelligence and cognitive abilities compared to their wild ancestor, most animals inadvertently are bred to be significantly dumber during domestication because they are the easiest to handle and control.

ajsnigrutin 5y ago

there are wild goats, and the goats on a farm live pretty much the same life as cows do.

mtoohig 5y ago

Where I am in Vanuatu in the south Pacific we have wild cows in the bush. Originally, these cows would have been domestic but escaped and they raise their young in the bush and now people hunt wild cows. Cows are usually kept by a rope around their neck tied to a tree and every couple days move the cow to a new area to let them access fresh vegetation. There are also some big plantations for coconuts and these usually have cows which if they break a fence will allow many to escape into the bush and hills. People here use a dozen or so dogs to sniff out wild animals in the bush and chase them down until they tire enough for the hunters to catch up and spear the animal. These hunting parties can take days of hanging out and following the dogs or just one if lucky. Then carrying home giant cuts of meat is the hard part which often requires the hunting party to leave a lot of fresh meat behind.

leobg 5y ago
I didn’t know Vanuatu was actually that big. It looks like just that thin strip of land on the map. BTW, I just find it fascinating to be talking to someone from Vanuatu here. HN rocks.

cheese_goddess 5y ago

I think the gaur is a legitimately "wild cow" (wild bovine anyway): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaur I don't think it's a feral breed, coming from once domesticated animals, but I may be wrong.