I have never personally tipped a cow, but I can say with authority that cows can sleep either standing up or lying down, much like horses (it's a survival instinct of many prey animals that allows them to start running from a dead sleep if a predator shows up). Horses almost always sleep standing up; I'm not sure if cows have a preference.

As to whether or not cow tipping is an urban myth, I'm not sure. I certainly have heard enough stories from people claiming to have done so, but I don't have any firsthand evidence.

Edited because I really can conjugate the verb "to do," even early in the morning.

Eee gads, I'm hot. I hate how I have absolutely no tolerance for heat. It's gonna cool down after tomorrow, so it's totally stupid for me to try to put an air conditioner in by myself. But, oh, how hot and miserable I am. And none of the places in the square that have WiFi also have air conditioning, so I'll be just as miserable at any of those places.

The physics of cow tipping.

Ah ha! Cool, Ailleann. Score one for tommyrot!

Morning, Kristin!

Cash, I am SO sorry about the constant battles you're having to have with Owen. I sincerely hope that he outgrows the militant naked stage soon.

but I can say with authority that cows can sleep either standing up or lying down, much like horses

Huh. I've never seen it myself, and I've seen a bazillion cows sleeping lying down....

From Ailleann's link:

Another problem is that cows, unlike horses, do not sleep on their feet — they doze. Ms Boechler said that cows are easily disturbed. “I have personally heard of people trying but failing because they are either using too few people or being too loud.

What does that mean? What's the difference between sleeping and dozing?

From link: Another problem is that cows, unlike horses, do not sleep on their feet — they doze. Ms Boechler said that cows are easily disturbed. “I have personally heard of people trying but failing because they are either using too few people or being too loud.

tommyrot: What does that mean? What's the difference between sleeping and dozing?

Ahh! Dozing is a kind of half-asleep state (see earlier comment about getting rest without being fully asleep b/c of predators). I grew up with cows next door, and I've definitely seen cows doze on their feet. That makes more sense now--they only really full-on sleep when they are lying down and are willing to be completely vulnerable to predators. I wonder if there are cow sentries to keep watch for danger the way there are in other animal species?

ETA:

You have cow tipping, sure, but have you ever played cow chip bingo?

My home-town fair used to have this every year.

Not only has my town (and my college, actually; its argricultural roots shine strong) had cow chip bingo, my next door neighbors had square dances every year, complete with a live band, a caller, and hay bales to sit upon. These are the details that I giggle about whenever anyone thinks that Connecticut is all yacht clubs and gated communities.

I wonder if there are cow sentries to keep watch for danger the way there are in other animal species?

I've never noticed it in domestic cattle, which are usually dumber than lettuce. Presumably their ancestors in the wild were smarter. I've always assumed cow-tipping was a myth, because how would you get leverage?

I've always assumed cow-tipping was a myth, because how would you get leverage?

Momentum and surprise.

I've never noticed it in domestic cattle, which are usually dumber than lettuce.

Too true. If there's one thing I've learned from growing up on a dairy farm, it's that cows are really dumb.

Btw, I'm posting rather than working because I had the World's Most Annoying Meeting (TM) this morning and then had a 45 minute break before teaching four classes. I share this fact in case anyone was unclear about my status as Slacker McSlackerpants who has a massive case of end-of-school-year apathy.