Behaviour of cows

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Cattle are curious critters if they dont perceive a threat.
You and your fire were probably something new, different and had an interesting smell.
They like nibbling on things as well, like tent ropes and tent walls, and for some reason can go out of their way to "fertilise" your annex floor :).

Possibly paying their last respects after your BBQ?

Many moons ago working up in the gulf country cattle would stroll through our camp to lick the soap bars left about for washing our hands. Three big Brahman-Hereford bulls in particluar got so brazen during the 3 months that we were there that we had to regularly shoo them off - they started to chew on wet washing, drink the washing machine suds, and EAT the soap bars. Clearly something missing from their diets.

yep cows love smoke well ours do anyway

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jebs65/sets/72157624876368031/

may need to copy and paste link to browser

Geez I hate it when the missus and her friends go camping without letting me know !!

Carl,
the cattle are pretty smart, for instance you will notice them hanging around windmills in the heat, they no better than us what they are for. We call them windmills but they really know that is a big fan up there is really a cow cooler.

Have a good one.

Hi Carl.
We camp at Cangai (Mann river) & the local cows give all the camp fires the once over. Its a wonder they still have their tongues.
They leave our site alone now as our old staffy gives them a bit of curry. LOL

Cheers.
Vince

Must be Nimbin or byron bay cows ..... question that should be asked is what exactly were you burning in that fire? reason I ask that question is the cows have a glazed look in there eyes, and they appear to be looking for munchies ...

g'day Carl,
last year we had bush fires on properties not far from hear and we spent about a week fighting them on and off ,where it had been back burned the cattle would wander in, and there was nothing left to eat but they seem to still seam to lick the ground getting something out of it.But i have seen cattle lick a piece of ground till it has bared obviously they can sense a mineral there that they want.
When we put out salt blocks they will lick them readily when they seam to need them, but will also go off them as soon as the green feed comes and they don't need the block.Also over the years we have used charcoal in the milk to prevent diarrhea in poddy calves, maybe the cattle are just curious, or just know what helps with a guts ache.
Diesel is used in sniffer drums to help prevent bloat in cattle , and if you plow up a paddock the cattle will play and carry on in the fresh dirt,and if you leave your vehicle out in a paddock they will just about lick every inch of it.They sound a bit like strange 4 wheel drivers.
Cheers John.

We have a calf here at the station that was allowed to wander where ever she liked until she was becoming to big, she's now been put out in the paddocks , she was trying to get into tents , anyhow when the tourist season was in full swing we were having BBQ nights on Friday's and she would line up and lay down by the fire.
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Some people in forums can talk BULL all the time

It's obvious that they were checking out the BBQ grass to see if it was ready or not.

Carl. Maybe the farmer is trying out a new product. "Smoked Milk" Regards,Bob

Just as a maybe....could the smoke or heat affect fleas or ticks de-verminising the bovines?

Cows are the most inquisitive of animals.

I parked my freshly cleaned and polished vehicle in a paddock, and went into the bush, to do my hunting thing.
When I got back 1 hr later the whole vehicle was covered in lick marks, and slobber, I was lucky
Look at the bright side of it I thought, one bloke I know did a silmilar thing, and the cattle that checked out his vehicle had horns.
They almost destroyed the vehicle with scratches.
He was not lucky.

Cheers
Bucky