Cow Chips: King of the Manure Pile

I found that upon dumping a pile of manure in the Ivins field that the cows would climb up on top of it. Once there they would proceed to fight over who was on top of the pile. When I would bring another load of manure to add to the pile you would think that I was hauling in some of the most delicious hay. The cows would come over and wait for the manure to be dumped, they would examine the pile sniffing it closely, and then there was always one or two that would climb up on top of it to see if there was something better on the top. This would usually start a game of king, or in this case queen of the manure pile.

The cows never did figure out that when I showed up with a load of manure four or five times a day that it was always manure. They never did figure out that the truck and trailer that I was using to haul the manure was different than the truck that I used to haul the hay I used to feed them.  They would examine each load of manure as it was dumped, fighting over who got to be on top. Sometimes they would be lying on the top of the pile when I got to the field. It was an interesting thing to see. I never did figure out why they liked to be on top of a pile of crap. Since my observations about the manure pile I have noticed cows on top of manure piles at a dairy just south of Beaver. It seems to be a common practice among cows, if there is a manure pile, climb up on top of it. Maybe it gives them a better view of the surrounding area, whatever the reason it was always amusing to watch.