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Cows Need Friends
Milk production is big business. In North America, for example, one person
consumes on average over 150 kilograms of milk every year. To supply the huge
amount needed, big farms use machines that automatically feed cows and take
their milk. Because ( 24 ), the cost of producing milk is lower. On such
farms, though, it is easy for diseases to spread from one animal to another. This
can lead to many cows dying on one farm. As a result, cows are often kept
separately from a young age.
Scientists in Canada researched the effects of keeping young cows in this
way. They compared such cows with ones that had been kept with another cow.
The researchers showed a red plastic container, which the cows had never seen
before, several times to each cow. The cows that had been kept in pairs were
interested in the container_at first but soon ignored it. (
25
)。 the cows that
had been kept alone continued to react as if it was the first time they had seen the
Container. The researchers concluded that cows kept alone are more sensitive to
new things.
This is important news for farmers. If cows cannot get used to the feeding
and milking machines, milk production slows down. The researchers believe
farmers would have fewer problems with feeding and milking if cows were kept
in very small groups, rather than separately. The researchers also say that diseases
are not sucha big problem for small groups. There should be little risk of
( 26
) if only two or three of them are kept together.
(24)
1 each cow is much larger
2 the milk can be kept longer
4 cheaper food is being used
proie
3 fewer people are needed
(25)
1 Later on
2 At last
3 In other words
4 On the other hand
(26)
1 feeding cows too much
3 wild animals attacking
2 losing many animals
4 young cowS staying healthy
