Have you ever noticed that herds of grazing animals all face the same way?

As most of you know - Ralph's Ranch is a Rabbit Ranch - our job is to raise Gourmet Rabbits.  We do not raise beef nor dairy cattle therefore we we found this story about revelations made by Google Earth very interesting.  It was sent to us by one of our customers and we found it interesting.

For the past 2 1/2 years we have been noticing this more and more since it was brought to our attention?  Is it a coincidence or is it really a phenomenon?  

If any of you readers are - or were - cattle people or worked on a dairy farmer we would sure appreciate any insights you might have on this fascinating subject.

Thanks Ralph

Below is the short article for you to review.  Any thoughts you can share will be greatly appreciated. 
  

{These cattle are grazing - in an perfect north to south position}






Images from Google Earth have now confirmed that both dairy and beef cattle tend to align their bodies in a north-south direction when grazing.

Wild deer and horses also display this behavior. This is a phenomenon that has apparently gone unnoticed by herdsmen, hunters and people living in wooded areas for thousands of years.

Scientists say the Earth’s magnetic fields may influence the behavior of animals when they graze.  Remember the Earth for all practical purposes is a actually a huge magnet, with a magnetic north and south pole.

Scientists have long known that many animal species such as birds, butterflies salmon and whales etc. use the Earth’s magnetic fields to guide them during their annual migrations - its like a natural built in GPS.  Detailed studies have also confirmed that bats use an “internal magnetic compass” to help them sense their direction.

The next time you drive past a herd of deer or a herd of horse stop and look at them.  Are the majority facing either a north or south direction? 

Dr. Sabine Begall, from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, studied the magnetic sensors of mole rats – small African animals that live deep underground in tunnels - that never come above ground.  Their tunnels are always dug in a north / south pattern.

Professor John Phillips, a sensory biologist from Virginia Tech University, believes there might just be a sixth ‘magnetic;’ sense in the animal kingdom” - especially among cattle, horses and deer.