cattle bunching up

[trackrat]

This may sound like a dumb question but is it normal for cattle to bunch up just standing as close together as can be, not eating anything just standing still. I grew up on a farm with cattle I never remember seeing them doing this at home. all my neighbors cattle are doing this now. AM I JUST NUTS

 

[maqbill]

Are they being harassed by dogs? Cattle will form up defensively.

 

[trackrat]

Are they being harassed by dogs? Cattle will form up defensively.

no nothing there they look happy just crammed up together

 

[joeysmith]

Storm a coming
Usually tight up against the fence as far away as they can get

 

[trackrat]

Storm a coming
Usually tight up against the fence as far away as they can get

Maybe but none forecast

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

They're cows. They could be standing together because there is danger, they could be standing together because the day ends in "y". Maybe they're having a meeting & are debating about the virtues of having four legs vs two.

Mike

 

[Steve in VA]

This may sound like a dumb question but is it normal for cattle to bunch up just standing as close together as can be, not eating anything just standing still. I grew up on a farm with cattle I never remember seeing them doing this at home. all my neighbors cattle are doing this now. AM I JUST NUTS

Ok, if we've ruled out dogs and storms, how about flies?

 

[trackrat]

Ok, if we've ruled out dogs and storms, how about flies?

Maybe don't know

 

[rrlund]

When? They'll do it in hot weather to spread out the fly load. Google it.

 

[joeysmith]

Possibly one of them passed gas on the other side of the places i suppose

 

[Lee-TX]

Storm a coming
Usually tight up against the fence as far away as they can get

We had storm last night and they’re still bunched up here.

 

[jhwis]

This may sound like a dumb question but is it normal for cattle to bunch up just standing as close together as can be, not eating anything just standing still. I grew up on a farm with cattle I never remember seeing them doing this at home. all my neighbors cattle are doing this now. AM I JUST NUTS

They are dumb and smart at the same time. There must be a reason rooted in survival albeit ancient in origin prolly. Mine will bunch up in windy conditions or snow. They will also during a storm.

 

[rrlund]

They are dumb and smart at the same time. There must be a reason rooted in survival albeit ancient in origin prolly. Mine will bunch up in windy conditions or snow. They will also during a storm.

They're herd animals. Any time they feel the least little bit threatened, they bunch up for protection.

 

[jhwis]

This may sound like a dumb question but is it normal for cattle to bunch up just standing as close together as can be, not eating anything just standing still. I grew up on a farm with cattle I never remember seeing them doing this at home. all my neighbors cattle are doing this now. AM I JUST NUTS

Where are you located? Random thought...is there anything new in the area (ie wind turbine, drilling, etc) recently that they can sense that people can not perhaps?

 

[GB in MT.]

Raised on WYO. ranches, and the only time I've seen cattle bunch up like that, was when a mt. lion was roaming near-by!!! Cows are very protective of their specific crowd, until the smell of a lion goes away.!!

Gary

 

[trackrat]

All the cows in my area are clumping up like this, nothing new to my knowledge I guess it's just my imagination maybe they have always done it

 

[DoubleR]

There cows and that's what they do is my thought, That's what our herd of Angus did all the time. I guess I never give it a thought one way or the other always figured there just being cows.

 

[cjunrau]

depends on the temp. If windy they will all bunch up. If a cow is calving and coyote or other wildlife threats are around they will swarm around the one calving. If there is nasty wind even on the way they will bunch up.

 

[Dingo3]

Plotting a rebellion?

 

[plattman]

This may sound like a dumb question but is it normal for cattle to bunch up just standing as close together as can be, not eating anything just standing still. I grew up on a farm with cattle I never remember seeing them doing this at home. all my neighbors cattle are doing this now. AM I JUST NUTS

they are natural weather veins. will face in to strong winds. Used that one once when had to land ahead of a storm.