SCP-1577-JP

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  Credits

  Title: SCP-1577-JP - The Cow Lay Down on the Grass Because It Was So Starved
  Author: ©︎KanKan
  Year Created: 2019

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Recovered photograph of SCP-1577-JP

Item #: SCP-1577-JP

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-1577-JP is contained within a standard biological containment unit at Site-8102. An automated system delivers 3 kg of grass into the containment unit every morning at 07:00; the mechanism must always store at least 10 kg of grass. To prevent the occurrence of Event 1577-JP, it is strictly prohibited to feed SCP-1577-JP any food other than grass.

To prevent the effects of Event 1577-JP, assigned personnel are mandated to administer Class W mnestics. Assigned personnel must check the status of SCP-1577-JP daily. Any discrepancy in understanding regarding the concept of "a grass-eating cow" between assigned personnel and others must be reported to the Research Director.

Description: SCP-1577-JP is a Class IV Information Altering Entity in the form of a Holstein Friesian cow (Bos taurus) that does not sleep. SCP-1577-JP exchanges the names of two specific concepts in order to maintain its identity as "a grass-eating cow" at any time (this exchange is designated as Event 1577-JP). Only the phrase "a grass-eating cow" is unaffected by Event 1577-JP; the following is an example.

1. SCP-1577-JP consumes a carrot.
2. Event 1577-JP occurs as SCP-1577-JP consumed a carrot instead of grass. The name of concept ''Carrot'' changes to "Grass", and the name of concept ''Grass'' changes to "Carrot".
3. Thereafter, carrots are treated as grass and grass as carrots until SCP-1577-JP consumes something other than carrots.

There are no locations immune to the effects of Event 1577-JP, and there have been no confirmed cases of affected humans perceiving the concept swap. It has been determined that there is approximately one hour delay between the point when SCP-1577-JP ceases to be "a grass-eating cow" and the occurrence of Event 1577-JP. The effects of Event 1577-JP are reversible through the administration of Class-A amnestics, and can be prevented in advance by Class W mnestics.

Addendum 1: SCP-1577-JP was discovered on 2019/09/01, during a raid on an underground research facility operated by an organization (hereafter referred to as GoI-8101-16) affiliated with the Japan Organisms Improvement and Creation Laboratory. It is believed that SCP-1577-JP had been under the care of researchers belonging to GoI-8101-16 but was abandoned shortly before the raid. The following are excerpts from documents recovered from the facility.

2018/08/28

We were unable to contact Mr. [DATA EXPUNGED], an anartist with whom we had been negotiating the transfer of samples since some time ago, for two days. Our personnel visited his residence in response, only to find him dead in his living room from a stroke. The samples already promised for transfer were retrieved, and I was assigned to research one of them, a Holstein cow that supposedly never stops lying down. Reportedly, a sign reading "A Grass-Eating Cow" was affixed to the barn next to the residence. There was apparently a sufficient amount of soil inside the barn, but the Holstein was mildly malnourished. Although a small amount of grass was found in its mouth and stomach, the reason why it stopped lying down on the grass remains unclear.

2018/08/29

The Holstein shows no sign of wanting to lie down. I tried not only placing grass inside the holding cell, but also bringing the grass right up to its mouth, yet it stubbornly refuses. Having no better option, I placed a carrot there, and it lay down on it without any problem. Was it a matter of preference?

2018/08/30

The true nature of the Holstein has been revealed. This cow is diligently adhering to its own definition, as stated on the sign: "a grass-eating cow." It's terrifying that we didn't even notice that the concepts of carrots and grass had been switched; we were truly fortunate that a clinical trial of memory-alteration-resistant rice happened to be underway. I will likely need to borrow some rice samples from the responsible team to conduct my own research going forward. Best get started on negotiations right away.

2018/08/31

One of my colleagues named that Holstein "Hanako". It was a very thoughtless action, but it turns out that naming it does not in itself trigger a conceptual alteration. Now I can safely give it an identification number.

2018/09/01

Ya-0443 (Holstein) collapsed. I was really concerned about what was going on, but since it started eating the grass near its mouth after a while, I'm relieved for now. That said, why did it suddenly start eating the grass despite not having eaten much of it until now?

Addendum 2: Since 2018/09/02, the following phenomena have been observed worldwide.

• Malnutrition and food poisoning occurring in an unspecified number of humans regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or other factors. Only oral nutrient intake is ineffective.
• Malnutrition occurring in grass-feeding livestock.
• Unexplained autonomous activities of bovine carcasses. There have been confirmed reports of these carcasses being returned to a living state when they were beaten or shot.

Event 1577-JP has been cited as a potential cause of these phenomena. Investigation is ongoing.