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"netic alignment in grazing and resting cattle and deer"

Oops! The thread title was clipped:
Magnetic alignment in grazing and resting cattle and deer

Found this interesting paper while surfing around tonight:

Quote:

Abstract

We demonstrate by means of simple, noninvasive methods (analysis of satellite images, field observations, and measuring “deer beds” in snow) that domestic cattle (n = 8,510 in 308 pastures) across the globe, and grazing and resting red and roe deer (n = 2,974 at 241 localities), align their body axes in roughly a north–south direction. Direct observations of roe deer revealed that animals orient their heads northward when grazing or resting. Amazingly, this ubiquitous phenomenon does not seem to have been noticed by herdsmen, ranchers, or hunters. Because wind and light conditions could be excluded as a common denominator determining the body axis orientation, magnetic alignment is the most parsimonious explanation. To test the hypothesis that cattle orient their body axes along the field lines of the Earth's magnetic field, we analyzed the body orientation of cattle from localities with high magnetic declination. Here, magnetic north was a better predictor than geographic north. This study reveals the magnetic alignment in large mammals based on statistically sufficient sample sizes. Our findings open horizons for the study of magnetoreception in general and are of potential significance for applied ethology (husbandry, animal welfare). They challenge neuroscientists and biophysics to explain the proximate mechanisms.

My emphasis in bold italics above.

Paper: http://www.pnas.org/content/105/36/13451.abstract?sid=7e81de64-abfc-4900-91db-9b82f5ae79ce

Weird, huh?

I guess we'll know when magnetic north switches poles by the cows turning around. :D

Drinking the warm milk tonight, eh? :D

KT

Quote:

“deer beds”

It would be interesting to post a poll: "what direction does your bed face"?

KT

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkor (Post 4189591)

It would be interesting to post a poll: "what direction does your bed face"?

KT

My bed goes roughly east-west, but I lay on it facing north.

Should I be worried if I see a man in overalls carrying a bucket? :eek:

Mine's north-south, baby!!! Moooooooo!

The Japanese say a north facing bed (kita makura - i.e. "north pillow") is unhealthy.

The Germans have a thing about metal bed-frames and mattress coils I have read.. beds that are made of non-ferrous materials are popular I understand..

Then I'm glad I'm not Japanese!

I thought they ate & slept facing into the wind

The pillow end of my bed faces west south west. Wind is vertical when I'm in bed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gaijin (Post 4189794)

The Japanese say a north facing bed (kita makura - i.e. "north pillow") is unhealthy.

I have a south facing bed... what does that mean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue (Post 4190676)

I have a south facing bed... what does that mean?

Well . . . do you happen to like Miatas too? :cool:

Ian