Cows Have Best Friends

It turns out cows are more than just grass-munching giants, they’re emotional animals with strong social bonds. In fact, studies show that cows form best friend pairs and get visibly stressed when separated. How do we know this? Read more here.

Researchers from the University of Northampton observed cows in pairs and alone. When cows were with their favorite companion, their heart rates were lower and their behavior calm. But when separated, their stress levels jumped. Some even started mooing more and pacing anxiously—basically, cow-level panic!

But that’s not all.

Cows also have excellent memories and can recognize familiar faces, both cow and human, for months. They remember who’s nice to them… and who isn’t. If a cow gets bullied by another, it may go out of its way to avoid that cow in the future.

And yes, they “talk” to each other. Cows use different types of moos, body language, and even tail flicks to communicate. Some dairy farmers even play calming music to help cows relax; it can lead to better milk production.

Next time you pass a pasture, look closely. You might just spot two cow besties hanging out side by side.