Original photo by Robert Harding Video/ Shutterstock
Lists of the world’s most intelligent animals don’t often feature cows, but our bovine friends have more emotional depth than they tend to get credit for. A 2011 study by scientists at the University of Northampton in England revealed that not only do cows have best friends, but they also get stressed out when separated from their BFFs — a relatable quality if ever there were one. The research was conducted by comparing heart rates and cortisol levels during 30-minute sessions in which a cow was penned with a “preferred partner” it was known to have a close bond with, then a “familiar but nonpreferred individual.” When the besties shared a pen together, their heart rates were lower and other signs of stress were also reduced.
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It's a factCows have red-green colorblindness, meaning both red and green appear as shades of gray and/or black to them. Red-green colorblindness is also common in dogs, horses, and cats.
Cows aren’t the only animals that form friendships. Chimpanzees and bonobos do, too, as do several others, including dolphins, horses, certain birds, and marmots. Dolphins can identify their friends by taste, whereas most other creatures are known for simply grooming, remaining in close proximity to, and touching their besties — capuchin monkeys, for example, gently stick their fingers in one another’s eye sockets as a bonding ritual.
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Domestic cows originated in ______.
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Domestic cows originated in Turkey.
Not all cattle are cows.
There are many different words for cattle, and though they’re sometimes used interchangeably, each one refers to a distinct kind. Bulls are adult males that are usually used for breeding rather than meat, whereas steer are castrated males typically raised for meat. The word “cow” itself refers to a mature female that has birthed at least one calf, and a heifer is a younger female that has not yet given birth.
Michael Nordine is a writer and editor living in Denver. A native Angeleno, he has two cats and wishes he had more.
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