Do Cows Lie Down When It’s About To Rain?

Some believe that if cows are lying down rain is on its way. Is this a good method of predicting rain? We have the answer.

by Farmers' Almanac Staff Updated: September 18, 2023

Some weather folklore is much more accurate than others. Unfortunately, cows lying down before a rain doesn’t seem to be the most accurate weather predictor. Cows lying down in a field more often means they’re chewing their cud, rather than preparing for raindrops. Interestingly enough, there are other cow sayings out there that are also far-fetched.

More Cow Folklore

Supposedly cows produce better or milk easier when they are listening to lowbrow or jazz music; however, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture refutes this notion, saying that the music is more for the workers than the cows, as there have been no findings to back the greater productivity theory.
If you feed a cow a bunch of her own hairs, she will forget her former home.
If an ox sticks his tail up in the air, it is a signal of a change in weather. And it is also rumored that all cattle will lie down on Christmas Day, in remembrance of the manger scene.
If a cow doesn’t bawl when her calf is sold, this portends that there will be a death in the family. Cattle born or weaned during the waning of the moon are thought to never be good breeders.