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| What Happens When a Herd Loses its Lead Cow? |
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Robyn Glover/iStockphoto |
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| An elk herd truly does depend on its head matriarch for her knowledge of migration paths, prime forage areas and escape routes. But the herd is well equipped for that inevitable day the wise one breathes her last. From birth onward, every elk learns from its elders, stockpiling and refining the key information it needs to survive. Meanwhile, the animals within a herd are constantly defining their hierarchy based on attitude, strength and savvy. When there is a question of rank among cows, they do battle by rearing up and hitting each other with their front hooves. So in every herd there is a constant supply of lead-cows-in-waiting, ready to step to the front of the line. |
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