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Why Farmers Make Cows Swallow Magnets

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cow magnet · hardware disease · cow stomach · reticulum · four stomach chambers · animal facts

The real science

Some farmers give their cows a magnet to swallow on purpose. Cows gulp food without much chewing, so stray nails and wire can end up in a stomach chamber close to the heart. The magnet settles there and holds the metal in place, usually for the rest of the cow's life. In people, a swallowed magnet is an emergency.

Don’t try anything shown in this video. This is general science, not medical advice — if you’re worried, contact a professional.

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