What's the theory behind the whole "cows lay down when it's going to rain" thing?

Question

Just curious because I live near a few farms and the cows are always pretty accurate. More-so than the weather channel!

Answer 1

The only thing is, they don't always lie down when it is going to rain. A lot of times you see them standing in a tight bunch right before it rains, too. They almost always have their rear ends to the wind. A lot of the "old timers" had ways of predicting the weather just by looking at natural things, guess this was just one of them.

Answer 2

This is one of the most well known natural weather indicators. It is said that when cows are lying down in a field, rain is on its way. This is explained by the fact that the cows sense the moisture in the air and are making sure they have somewhere dry to lie down.

Answer 3

Cows/Horses will put their behinds toward any bad weather that is coming to protect their heads. The cows will lay down since this is usually the easiet way for them to weather the storm if there is not shelter such as trees available.

Answer 4

Because cows chew the cud in the daytime and they like to "lay" down when they do that... So.. we see the cows lying down because it's the daytime and funnily enough that is the time we are most aware of rain....
Cows do a lot of lying down.

Answer 5

One theory is many animals, not just cows, lie down to conserve body heat and to be less of a target for lightning.

Answer 6

Think logically.
A cow proberly doesn't fancy eating their dinner wet.
Hence laying down & keeping it dry.
It's a theory I have belief in.

Answer 7

I've never heard this one... I grew up in dairy country and cows usuall stand in the rain, all facing away from it so it doesn't hit them in the face.

Answer 8

Heh, thats funny... Some animals actually can tell whats soon going to happen and I guess that cows are one of them!

Answer 9

???