The obvious answer to this question, except to a certain ignorant few, is yes. However, those ignorant few apparently have a strong presence on the internet. They have managed to turn this simple question of zoological anatomy into a full-fledged, message board flamewar. The following are some of the highlights of this continuing hot-button topic:

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/303276

Galeanda:
“All cattle have horns whether or not they are cow or bull. The exception are cattle that are naturally polled, that means they don’t have horns.”

https://www.fondsgoetheanum.ch/en/kampagnen/landwirtschaft/haben-kuehe-hoerner-eine-umfrage-gibt-einblick.html

Daniel Haberthür, Basel:
“The horns have a significant function as part of the cow’s body. According to the ideas of biodynamic agriculture they are important for the cows’ wellbeing, their social behaviour, and they serve as receivers for various kinds of waves.”

Christof Dietler, Chur:
“Cows eat, chew (several times, actually), are great mothers, good mates, and hard workers. They also star in films, sell chocolate, and have the job as the Swiss national animal. The cow has horns so that this beautiful, multi-faceted animal turns into a proud and graceful animal.”

Eva Holzmann, Zurich: “Cows have horns because they’re beautiful on them. Horns are a connection to the sky. They make it easier for cows to keep their heads up straight and balanced.”

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071219015122AA8pZnn

Nightrider:
“Male (bulls) have horns.

Cows (females) dont. I have a challenge for you: You can look long and hard and look everywhere, up and down…….all over the place. Go to a farm where the cows are grazing in the grass field, in the wild blue yonder.

You will NEVER be able to find a cow that has white ears. That’s your challenge. This challenge will drive you crazy. Tell your friends too………….

If you do, that cow is worth a lot of money but you will never find it. Ha………you thought you knew everything, didn’t you?”

Lola:
“Cows with horns are boy cows, cows without horns are girl cows.

Boy cows with horns are the bulls which still have their “man bits” to help produce more cows – with or without horns.

Boy cows without horns have had their horns (in both senses) taken away and they become beef.”

THE MEXICAN SAYS…:
“FOR EVERYONES INFORMATION THERE IS SUCH A THING AS GIRL COWS WITH HORNS. AND I GOT PIX TO PROVE IT!! DONT ARGUE WITH ME!!! IM A COW MILKER IN WISCONSIN.. I GOT SOME PICS ON MY SPACE ASWELL. SEND ME A MESSAGE AND ILL SHOW THEM TO YOU … AND ITS NOT RARE TO FIND COWS WITH ALL WHITE EARS.. I ALSO GOT PICS OF THEM .. LIKE I SAID DONT ARGUE WITH ME ..

Source(s):

I HAVE BEEN MILKING COWS FOR 7 YEARS ALREADY”

I saw a cow this morning on the way to work with a swollen udder (I was on the way to work, not the cow). It reminded me of an old farmer I knew in Iowa who tried to teach me how to milk one. What I remember is that it’s gross. In fact, just thinking about it makes me not want to drink milk.

So I got to wondering; if we can determine the chemical composition of cow’s milk, and if we can feed our milk cows on a diet of hay, hormones and supplements to produce the best milk product money can buy, why is it that we can’t simply create a machine that would simulate that exact chemical process that occurs inside of a cow and just cut out the middle man (or cow)? It seems like it should be pretty easy. Just feed it some hay, wait for it to digest and let the milk squirt out the other end. Here is a crude diagram of the exact design that would be required:

Patent pending.

UPDATE: Looks like my design was not far off, except they forgot to point out the horns.

UPDATE 2: Apparently, the agro-scientists are already on it. And if that was too pleasant, check out the progress in the foreign markets.