Many of us can agree that friendship is a very important part of life.
Research suggests that in the US, most people have between three and five close friends. But friendships aren’t just for humans. Research suggests that cows, and many other animals, have good information too – they just show their connection in a different way. And that’s because, just like us, they have the ability to see emotions, bond and empathy.
Do cows have friends?
Because cows can experience emotions, they can also experience bonding. Just like humans, research suggests that animals have special friends who calm them down and make them feel good.
In 2011, a study from the University of Northampton examined cows that were placed in pens for 30 minutes on two separate occasions. The first time they were with a partner they spent a lot of time with, also known as their best friend. But the second time, they were with a cow they didn’t know. When they were with a friend, their heart rates and levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) were lower.
The results show that cows are much happier when they have a friend nearby, and Krista McLennan, lead author, told the Daily Mail that farmers had also anecdotally confirmed this theory.
“I’ve spoken to a number of farmers who have said they notice that their cows are forming bonds with each other, and some spend a lot of time together,” she said.
But can cows be friends with humans?
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence and video evidence to suggest that cows can feel affection for humans. For example, a video from Kinder World, which you can see below, shows several videos of animals enjoying the company of humans, being scratched and petted, as well as licking and rubbing in return and resting their heads peacefully on the human’s lap.
