Editing Cow tipping (section)

=== Involuntary recumbency ===

Cows may inadvertently tip themselves. Due to their bulk and relatively short legs, cattle cannot roll over. Those that lie down and roll to their sides with their feet pointing uphill may become stuck and unable to rise without assistance, with potentially fatal results. In such cases, two humans can roll or flip a cow onto its other side, so that its feet are aimed downhill, thus allowing it to rise on its own.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Swearingen |first1 = Jake |title = Cow Tipping Doesn't Exist – But Cow Flipping Does – Modern Farmer |url = http://modernfarmer.com/2013/09/cow-tipping-doesnt-exist-cow-flipping/ |website = Modern Farmer |access-date = May 16, 2016 |language = en-US |date = September 9, 2013 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526180102/http://modernfarmer.com/2013/09/cow-tipping-doesnt-exist-cow-flipping/ |archive-date = May 26, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> In one documented case of "real-life cow tipping", a pregnant cow rolled into a gully in [[New Hampshire]] and became trapped in an inverted state until rescued by [[volunteer fire fighters]]. The owner of the cow commented that he had seen this happen "once or twice" before.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.ledgertranscript.com/News/A-case-of-cow-tipping-on-Hancock-farmland-1321887 |title = A Case of Cow Tipping on Hancock Farmland |first = Ben |last = Conant |date = April 4, 2016 |newspaper = [[Monadnock Ledger-Transcript]] |location = Monadnock, New Hampshire |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160509170019/http://www.ledgertranscript.com/News/A-case-of-cow-tipping-on-Hancock-farmland-1321887 |archive-date = May 9, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Trauma or illness may also result in a cow unable to rise to its feet. Such animals are sometimes called "[[downer (animal)|downers]]." Sometimes this occurs as a result of muscle and nerve damage from calving or a disease such as [[mastitis]].<ref name=Downer /> Leg injuries, muscle tears, or a massive infection of some sort may also be causes.<ref name="VanMetre">{{cite web |last1 = Van Metre |first1 = David C. |last2 = Garry |first2 = Frank B. |title = Figuring out down cows |url = http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/wdn/2008/WDN%20Dec%20downers.pdf |work = Western Dairy News |access-date = May 16, 2016 |date = December 2008 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130129113039/http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/wdn/2008/WDN%20Dec%20downers.pdf |archive-date = January 29, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Downer cows are encouraged to get to their feet and have a much greater chance of recovery if they do. If unable to rise, some have survived—with medical care—as long as 14 days and were ultimately able to get back on their feet. Appropriate medical treatment for a downer cow to prevent further injury includes rolling from one side to the other every three hours, careful and frequent feeding of small amounts of [[fodder]], and access to clean water.<ref name=Downer>{{cite web |title = The Downer Cow |url = http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/246/the-downer-cow/ |website = The Cattle Site |access-date = May 16, 2016 |archive-date = November 12, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034933/http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/246/the-downer-cow/ |url-status = live }}</ref>