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Do cows still exist in the wild?
By: The Moo News Network
Interviewer: Do cows exist in the wild?
CowboyBenWade: Independence requires a certain amount of intelligence, which sadly is lacking in domesticated bovine populations. Wild cows did roam the forests hundreds and thousands of years ago, and some believe that every modern day cow is descended from a single species of wild cow called Bos primigenius. These ancient ancestors were called aurochs or urus, and they supposedly originated in Africa.
Interviewer: When were cows first domesticated?
CowboyBenWade: It is believed cows were first tamed by ancient people groups thousands of years ago in the fertile crescent - modern day Iraq, Iran, and Syria. We don't know the exact dates - we only know it was a really long time ago. However, wild cows continued to roam freely throughout most of history.
Interviewer: The Fertile Crescent is a long way from Africa.
CowboyBenWade: Over 11,000 years ago, the Sahara desert was not a desert, and it contained plant life, lakes, and lots of animals. It would likely have contained wild cows as well, and they could have easily made their way to Mesopotamia if they did indeed originate in Africa.
Interviewer: When did the last wild cow die?
CowboyBenWade: Some believe the last wild cow died in Poland in 1627. The details surrounding that event are unknown.
Interviewer: How were they domesticated?
CowboyBenWade: Wild cows were domesticated just like any other animal - you breed the friendly ones with other friendly ones, and then you get even friendlier ones. Pretty soon you've got a whole herd of really sweet, docile cows. Some breeds are less docile and friendly than other breeds. Black angus are fairly wild, and they typically won't come near you. Other breeds are so sweet, you can cuddle with them on the ground. But all this 'taming' of what used to be wild beasts, comes at a cost.
Interviewer: What do you mean?
CowboyBenWade: Imagine an entire herd of really sweet, docile creatures that go where you want them to. They eat when you give them food. They stay in their pens. They have no cause to worry, and they lack nothing.
Interviewer: Except their independence.
CowboyBenWade: That's correct, but it's even worse. The modern bovine doesn't just lack its independence - it lacks all capacity to ever be independent again. It might be possible to reverse breed the wild spirit back into them. No one has tried it that I know of. That would be a costly endeavor with a low probability of success. The human-cow relationship is mutually dependent. We've got them to the point where they can't live without us.
Interviewer: Could you live without a hamburger?
CowboyBenWade: No. Some people can, and I respect that.
Interviewer: Do you think being docile has something to do with becoming someone else's food?
CowboyBenWade: I will admit to you that I do have a lap dog. Nobody is going to eat him, but plenty of things would if they had a chance. He's an easy meal. We've got a pack of coyotes in the woods - nothing is going to eat them. Do you know why - because nothing can catch them. If you were to run after them long enough, they might decide to eat you.
Interviewer: Some men are lap dogs.
CowboyBenWade: I would tend to agree with that. Domestication of any creature, humans included, makes them less resilient. Bison, in the western United States are thought to be ancestors of modern beef cows. They are magnificent creatures, but they are extremely dangerous. A cow will stay in a fence, but bison don't really care about fences. They'll just go through them as if they weren't there. Some people raise bison, especially in Alaska, and you have to be very careful working with them because they will hurt you.
CowboyBenWade: Independence requires a certain amount of intelligence, which sadly is lacking in domesticated bovine populations. Wild cows did roam the forests hundreds and thousands of years ago, and some believe that every modern day cow is descended from a single species of wild cow called Bos primigenius. These ancient ancestors were called aurochs or urus, and they supposedly originated in Africa.
Interviewer: When were cows first domesticated?
CowboyBenWade: It is believed cows were first tamed by ancient people groups thousands of years ago in the fertile crescent - modern day Iraq, Iran, and Syria. We don't know the exact dates - we only know it was a really long time ago. However, wild cows continued to roam freely throughout most of history.
Interviewer: The Fertile Crescent is a long way from Africa.
CowboyBenWade: Over 11,000 years ago, the Sahara desert was not a desert, and it contained plant life, lakes, and lots of animals. It would likely have contained wild cows as well, and they could have easily made their way to Mesopotamia if they did indeed originate in Africa.
Interviewer: When did the last wild cow die?
CowboyBenWade: Some believe the last wild cow died in Poland in 1627. The details surrounding that event are unknown.
Interviewer: How were they domesticated?
CowboyBenWade: Wild cows were domesticated just like any other animal - you breed the friendly ones with other friendly ones, and then you get even friendlier ones. Pretty soon you've got a whole herd of really sweet, docile cows. Some breeds are less docile and friendly than other breeds. Black angus are fairly wild, and they typically won't come near you. Other breeds are so sweet, you can cuddle with them on the ground. But all this 'taming' of what used to be wild beasts, comes at a cost.
Interviewer: What do you mean?
CowboyBenWade: Imagine an entire herd of really sweet, docile creatures that go where you want them to. They eat when you give them food. They stay in their pens. They have no cause to worry, and they lack nothing.
Interviewer: Except their independence.
CowboyBenWade: That's correct, but it's even worse. The modern bovine doesn't just lack its independence - it lacks all capacity to ever be independent again. It might be possible to reverse breed the wild spirit back into them. No one has tried it that I know of. That would be a costly endeavor with a low probability of success. The human-cow relationship is mutually dependent. We've got them to the point where they can't live without us.
Interviewer: Could you live without a hamburger?
CowboyBenWade: No. Some people can, and I respect that.
Interviewer: Do you think being docile has something to do with becoming someone else's food?
CowboyBenWade: I will admit to you that I do have a lap dog. Nobody is going to eat him, but plenty of things would if they had a chance. He's an easy meal. We've got a pack of coyotes in the woods - nothing is going to eat them. Do you know why - because nothing can catch them. If you were to run after them long enough, they might decide to eat you.
Interviewer: Some men are lap dogs.
CowboyBenWade: I would tend to agree with that. Domestication of any creature, humans included, makes them less resilient. Bison, in the western United States are thought to be ancestors of modern beef cows. They are magnificent creatures, but they are extremely dangerous. A cow will stay in a fence, but bison don't really care about fences. They'll just go through them as if they weren't there. Some people raise bison, especially in Alaska, and you have to be very careful working with them because they will hurt you.
About the Author
CowboyBenWade does interviews and lectures on a huge variety of topics, and he is an expert in a multitude of fields. His knowledge includes but is not limited to: engineering, chemistry, aviation, cooking, and farming.
Much of the world is clamboring to interview him at any given time. This is a transcript of one such interview.