Another interesting finding is that the research found that cows that wear cowbells chew their food less than those without them — a possible result of having a 12-pound bell around your neck.
I also did not know that cow bell size is like other size competitions: the larger your cow bell, the greater status and wealth you projected as a Swiss farmer. Accordingly, the bells got bigger and bigger where presumably the most insecure farmer had some poor bovine dragging around the Liberty bell. They also were viewed as keeping away evil spirits, though now they have attracted federal officials.
In the ultimate techno-response, many are suggesting the use of GPS devices to find cows rather than the traditional bells. The problem are the tourists who are unlikely to travel to see the eternal bucolic scene of GPS monitored cows.
Some have suggested the bells be replaced with GPS tracking devices to making tracking cattle easier and quieter, but critics scoff at the idea.
Here is the most positive aspect of this story. In many stories in the United States and other countries, environmental or animal rights reforms are often met with campaigns of opposition from businesses. However,
Swiss Tourism spokeswoman Véronique Kanel said that it was be hard to lose the iconic cow bells but that “animal welfare is paramount.”
It appears that, even in the pastoral settings of Switzerland, “No man is an island. . . for whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.”
Source: Local Ch as seen on Reddit.