Animal of the Month

1. Cows in a herd form close friendships with two or three other cows and spend most of their time with these friends.
2. Researchers have found that cows like the challenge of problem-solving and become excited when they complete a task.
3. Just like us, cows don't always like everyone else, and they can hold grudges against others for months or even years.
4. Cows are raised for meat and milk, but both industries cause the animals pain and suffering.  
5. Hindus worship cows as sacred.
6. Cows form social hierarchies within their herds and choose a leader based on his or her intelligence, as do sheep.
7. Cows, like all mammals, must have a baby in order to produce milk, and most of the calves born on dairy farms are taken away from their mothers and used for meat or milk.
8. Vegans, including actor Joaquin Phoenix and Simpsons character Apu, respect cows and won't eat them, drink their milk or wear their skins.
9. When a mother is separated from her calf on a dairy farm, she grieves for many days, calling for her calf.
10. Cows prefer to sleep near their family and friends, and the order in which they lie down to sleep reflects the social hierarchy of the herd.