Cows orient themselves to the magnetic pole!

Forget the northern star, follow the cows instead. Researchers have discovered that when grazing or resting, cattle and also deer, tend to point their bodies towards Earth’s magnetic poles, which suggests that they are able to sense magnetic fields like smaller animals.

As a result, you’ll notice that these animals often tend to point north or south, but not in any other direction. The research groups ruled out many other reasons for why animals orient themselves in such a way. 

There is no consistent wind pattern among the different locations , and if animals were basking in the sun, researchers would have seen them standing outside of one another’s shadows. Next time you want to mess with some farm animals, try waving some magnets in their faces (at your own risk). 

(Source)