When you think of fast animals, what comes to mind? No doubt you imagine cheetahs, deers, or even some domestic dogs.
Cows look big, sluggish, and…well…slow. Our only image of cows is lazy mammals grazing in the fields while letting out occasional moos.
For people who have never seen a cow run, this begs the question: How fast can a cow run?
Cows can run fast, and the average speed of a cow is 17 miles an hour. Some have even gone up to 25 miles an hour, which is just as fast as Usain Bolt. Compared to many other animals, cows will be considered slow. However, they outspeed the average human and a couple of other mammals.
Want to find out more? Read on!
How Fast Can a Cow Run (in MPH)?
Cows can run up to 25 miles an hour, and amongst farm animals, it is one of the fastest.
Only the horse and the llama can claim to be faster than a cow.
This beats the image of a slow, obese animal that we may have when we look at the cow.
The fastest mammal in the world is the cheetah, which can get up to 75 mph. Other fast mammals include the horse, deer, llama, and cat.
The cow isn’t as fast as any of these, but it is faster than the pig, the chicken, and the squirrel. Its speed is close to that of a sheep.
How Fast Can a Cow Walk?
Cows are fairly fast when they run, but because they don’t run as much as animals like rabbits, we need to compare how fast it walks with how it runs.
This would give us a general sense of their speed.
Cows can walk all day and hardly get tired. They’ve been known to walk for 10 to 15 miles a day, and the count per hour is 2 miles.
They move from 2 miles to more than 20 miles per hour when they want to run, which is a big switch.
How Far Can a Cow Run?
Knowing how fast a cow can run, let’s look into how far it can go. All cows don’t cover the same distance.
Similar to humans, some cows can go farther than others. It depends on factors like their surface, age, and weight.
On average, cows can run up to 350 feet in a few seconds. As we already mentioned, cows don’t always run as much as other animals like horses.
They can go far, though, judging by the feet measured. We need to also gauge how long cows can run while evaluating their speed.
How Long Can a Cow Run?
No one is quite sure the exact length of time a cow can run. One side states that the cow can run for 5 hours without rest.
The opposing team limits the time to 2 hours. Whichever is correct, cows have strong endurance.
Compare them to the cheetah. Though the fastest animals, cheetahs are sprinters that can run for about 30 seconds.
Anything more than that will put them at health risk. This shows how durable a cow can be when running.
Why Do Cows Run?
Now that we know the ‘hows’, let’s look into other important questions that regroup the ‘whys’ and some extras.
Why do cows run?
It is an unusual sight to see these weighty animals running, but there are many reasons a cow will run.
They include:
- Fear: A major reason cows run is to get away from something that scared them. This is understandable as it happens to us humans too. Cows are generally afraid of humans, so a threat would make them run. This would happen if you shout at them, hit them, etc.
- Excitement: Fear isn’t the only emotion these animals feel. They can also get excited, causing them to run. They play around and can be happy.
- Warding off humans: Cows don’t look dangerous—and they usually aren’t—but do not underestimate what they can do. Sometimes they can chase a human rather than run away. We’ll develop this particular point in a later section.
Why Do Cows Run With Their Tails Up?
If you’ve ever observed cows running, you’ll notice the tails remain elongated and straight, as opposed to hanging limply from the rear end.
This isn’t just due to the wind. The tail is an active extension of the cow, and it plays some roles when the cow is running.
One of these roles is that of balance. When the cow is running, the outstretched tail helps keep balance.
It is also good for exploring the environment or checking for danger. The outstretched tail is also a sign of excitement.
Are Cows Faster Than Humans?
Generally, cows are faster than the average human. The average human speed falls between 5 to 6 mph, according to Healthline.
That’s far behind the cow’s record which we know to fall within 17 to 25 miles. Cows can also jump heights that humans would be unable to.
That said, humans have a running advantage. We can change directions on a whim, even at top speed.
Cows don’t have this ability as they weren’t created like humans.
The fastest recorded people in the world get up the highest cow’s speed, though.
In 2009, Usain Bolt set a record of over 27 mph and became known as the fastest man.
The fastest woman set a record of 21 mph. Her name is Elaine Thompson-Herah.
Can a Human Outrun a Cow?
Unless you’re Usain Bolt, you can’t outrun a cow. Even a slow cow will run double the speed of an average human, especially when running in a straight line.
A human can only have a chance of outrunning a cow if the path has a lot of turns.
Cows can also endure longer than humans. They can run for up to 2 hours or even more. Only a trained marathon runner can go that long. The average runner runs around 15 minutes.
Can a Cow Chase A Human?
Cows are not considered dangerous animals but are rather docile and friendly.
However, they can misinterpret some signals as danger and give chase. This happens especially if you run.
The cow might feel either threatened or curious and pursue the running human. This especially happens if you are with a dog, or if the cow is a mother.
The best way to prevent this is to not provoke the cow.
Do not keep the cow close to a dog too, and try not to run on a whim. Cows may not be dangerous, but they can kill.
What to Do if a Cow Chases You?
If you found yourself being chased by a cow, here are some tips you can follow to avoid being hurt:
- Don’t bother outrunning the cow.
- Run in a zig-zag manner if you do have to run.
- Find the nearest bend, and try to confuse the cow.
- If the cow is still charging, stay calm and back away.
- If you’re with a dog, let go of the leash so your dog can run to safety.
- If you get pursued by a herd, find the nearest barrier and put something between you and them.
Wrap Up
Do not underestimate the speed and strength of cows.
With an mph that matches Usain Bolt, cows are fast and would be considered one of the fastest farm animals living today.
Cows are often harmless, but you shouldn’t provoke them unnecessarily as they can turn into monstrous herbivores in a split second.
If you do find yourself being chased by a cow, remember that taking sharp bends may be your only solution.
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