Amanda Waxman
Animal scientists observe the unique personalities and social dynamics of cows every day, and it turns out that there’s a lot we can learn from the species.
We all get by with a little help from our friends—cows included! In fact, as we learn more about cows, it becomes clear that humans and cows have a lot in common. Countless studies have shown that cows have strong social dynamics, complex emotional lives, and the ability to think rationally and solve problems. Read on to learn more about how scientists are uncovering the hidden inner lives of cows.
Do cows actually have best friends?
You know the instant sense of relief and excitement you feel when you’re at a party and one of your best friends enters the room? Cows experience this, too! This is how researchers discovered that cows do, indeed, have best friends.
In 2011, a PhD student at Northampton University in England put this idea to the test by monitoring cows’ heart rates and cortisol levels—the two indicators that animal behaviorists use to measure stress. The student examined how each cow’s stress level changed in three different scenarios: in a pen by herself, in a pen with another cow she didn’t know, and in a pen with her closest companion in the herd.
When the cows had their “preferred partners” with them, their stress levels were significantly lower than if they were by themselves or with a cow they didn’t know. Cows aren’t only comforted by the fact that they’re not alone—they’re more comfortable and happy because they’re with their closest companion. Isn’t that what makes best friends so special?
How do cattle bond?
So, how do cattle form these special friendships? Well, they’re herd animals, which means they’re almost always surrounded by other cows. From birth, cows have a strong desire to bond with other cows. They seek out physical contact, grooming one another, going on walks together, and even curling up side-by-side to sleep. While it’s certainly practical for cows to stick together to find places to graze and stay safe from predators, their emotional connections make their bonds even stronger.
Because cattle herds are so large—consisting of up to 300 individuals—social dynamics naturally arise. Even though all herd members rely on one another to some degree, cows will develop preferences for certain herdmates. Like humans, cows have unique personalities—some individuals are more introverted and laid-back, while others are more extroverted and playful. Studies show that cows with similar dispositions gravitate toward one another, forging close relationships in the process. So, essentially, cattle bond like humans do: they’re driven to seek out relationships with like-minded individuals, and they can even form lifelong friendships in the process.
Do cows have feelings?
Yes! Even though we can’t ask cows how they’re feeling, research has shown that cows have complex emotional lives. They don’t just experience the two basic emotions—stress and contentment—they experience a full spectrum of complex emotions, including excitement, love, sadness, and fear.
Interestingly, cows even experience “cognitive bias.” Researchers use this term to describe whether an individual has a positive or negative outlook on life based on past experiences—in simpler terms, your “cognitive bias” determines whether you see the glass as “half-empty” or “half-full.” For example, when young calves experience something painful, like getting their horns removed with a hot iron, they’ll go out of their way to avoid sights and sounds that they associate with that negative experience—even if they’re in no danger of getting hurt.
On the flipside, cows get excited for new things and experiences, too. One study found that when cows had to practice a small task to get a treat, they showed signs of pleasure when they fully “mastered” the task. Researchers called this an “emotional reaction to learning.” In simpler terms, it means that cows feel the same amazing sense of satisfaction humans feel when we nail something we’ve been working hard on, whether it’s acing a trivia question, setting a personal record at the gym, or finishing a craft project!
Even though they may not express them in the same ways, cows experience a lot of the same emotions we do in our day-to-day lives. In short: cows have feelings, too!
Do cows get depressed?
As the previously mentioned studies have shown, cows are naturally social animals who form strong bonds with one another. When cows are isolated from their friends and family, they get lonely, stressed, and even depressed.
Sadly, this experience is all too common for cows who are born and raised on factory farms. These farms take newborn baby calves away from their mothers to prevent the calves from drinking their mother’s milk. But mother cows have naturally strong bonds with their babies and will go great lengths to protect them—one study showed that mother cows were willing to risk their own lives to keep their calves from harm.
However, factory farms use devices to restrain and confine mother cows, so they are helpless when they see their babies taken away from them. Both mothers and babies experience great distress at this separation, and are known to cry out in anguish for hours or even days at a time. Animal behaviorists observe that young calves who are abruptly separated from their mothers also display a lack of willingness to eat solid food and have lowered ability to cope with stressful situations. Again, although cows can’t tell us how they’re feeling with words, their behaviors show us just how depressing life on a factory farm can be.
Do cows get attached to humans?
Cows are remarkably forgiving animals. Even after they face cruelty at the hands of humans on factory farms, cows respond well to our species when we show them kindness—even making friends with humans in the process.
Caregivers at farm animal rescues and sanctuaries see firsthand how cows get attached to humans. Like other species, they give and receive affection through grooming one another. Thus, they love when their human caregivers give them pets and scratches, especially on the chin or behind the ears. If a cow spends enough positive time with a human, they might start to see them as part of the cow’s “herd.” They’ll show affection back to humans by licking them, following them around, or even cuddling with them.
Why do cows stare at you?
What other animals have best friends?
- Bats. Vampire bats maintain decade-long relationships with one another, and their bonds deepen over the years.
- Elephants. Like cows, elephants are herd animals. Herdmates with similar personalities will gravitate toward one another, forming deep connection in the process.
- Baboons. Unrelated female baboons can develop strong attachments, with certain pairs preferring to sit near each other and groom one another in group settings.
- Dolphins. Dolphins form friendships with other dolphins based on shared interests, just like us humans! The remarkable thing is, these are just the few species that scientists have had time to study. There’s still so much to uncover and understand when it comes to the inner lives of animals.
What you can do
Overall, cows and other nonhuman animals are individuals with unique personalities, not unlike the dogs and cats we share our homes with. They deserve the same compassion and kindness that we extend to companion animals, as well—not the abuse and neglect that they face in our broken food system. Help create a future where all cows are free to be themselves with their best friends by leaving animals off your plate and making the switch to more compassionate, plant-based alternatives. Check out our free Eating Veg guide to get started.
