Why do cows in Switzerland make a hole in their side

The Swiss children smile and with interest stick their hand into the special hole that is made in the side ... of the cow. At the same time, the animal continues to chew food slowly or simply stands, not showing any interest in what is happening in its left side. This is the excursion for schoolchildren on a Swiss livestock farm, where all the cows have an unusual hole in their side. But why was it necessary to make such changes in the physiology of animals?

Such oddities are explained by concern for the health of cows and the financial well-being of farmers. In order for the cow to bring maximum income to its owner and give high-quality milk, it must be healthy. But, unfortunately, the complicated digestive system of cows does not always work like a clock, and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract cause animal death. These pathological changes can be caused by a sharp change in nutrition, the introduction of new feed additives into the diet, or other reasons. Microorganisms that live in the cow’s stomach do not always have time to rebuild to digest a new type of food, and the gases accumulated as a result of digestive disorders cause the death of the animal. In order to avoid such sad consequences, special devices were invented.

Young animals insert a special funnel with a cork in the first section of a multi-chamber cow stomach. In the future, when experimenting with new feed ingredients or just to control your health, you can always remove the cork, take microflora samples or perform other necessary procedures. Gases that accumulate in the stomach and can cause discomfort and even death of the animal are easily removed by simply opening the valve. Such devices in the sides of the cows are common in many large livestock complexes in Switzerland. In addition to practical benefits, such flaps on the side serve as a visual aid for schoolchildren and adults who come on excursions to dairy farms.