When allowed to be together, cows and their calves form strong bonds that can last a lifetime. At Farm Sanctuary, cows have the chance to be the loving nurturers they are.
Did you know that cows aren’t just guardians of their calves but also protect others in their herd and may even take in other calves in need?
Liberty cow is one of the remarkable farm animal moms who inspire us daily at Farm Sanctuary. She was rescued after giving birth at a Los Angeles slaughterhouse. Thankfully, she will spend the rest of her life with her calf Indigo (seen below, running to her mom) by her side.
You can read more about Liberty and Indigo at the end, but first, let’s celebrate some of the many reasons cows are the world’s best moms!
1. Cows Teach Their Calves
It is not only humans who have culture or the passing of knowledge and behaviors through generations. Culture is present in many species – including cows! Farm animals are far more complex than we often give them credit for. Cows learn by observing others in their herd, including their mothers.
2. Cows Are Fiercely Protective
Mother cows bond with their calves and often cry out for those separated on dairy farms so their milk can be sold. Nearly all cows in one study physically blocked a vehicle approaching their calf. Cows were also more protective of calves with low birth weight, nursing them more frequently.
Liz and her son Cashew were released to Farm Sanctuary by a dairy farmer.
3. Cows Experience Each Other’s Emotions
Empathy is the ability to experience another’s feelings; cows are among the many species that exhibit this trait. Cows “catch” the emotions of others, including their calves, becoming distressed themselves when their calves, family, or friends are upset.
Snickerdoodle cow nuzzles Michael Morgan calf, rescued after falling from a transport truck.
4. Cows Help Their Calves Have Fun
Kids like to play, including calves! The mother-calf relationship is important in ensuring this happiness, as in many other aspects of their emotional and physical well-being. Research has shown that farmed calves who nurse and remain with their moms longer run and play more.
5. Cows Adopt Orphaned Calves
Cows sometimes take in and care for other calves as their own. At Farm Sanctuary, we’ve often seen the love between chosen families. For example, Jackie cow was grieving her calf’s death when she met the young orphaned Dixon. Together, their hearts have healed.
Dixon (front) and Jackie cow, who chose to become his adoptive mom.
6. Cows Gently Groom Their Calves & Each Other
Cows use their sandpaper-like tongues (think of a cat!) to carefully groom their calves. This helps keep them healthy and clean and is vital to social bonding. Like chimpanzees, cows (and steers) form grooming partnerships with other herd members to care for one another.
7. Cows Form Matriarchal Social Groups
Cows are mothers to their calves but may also be mother figures to others around them. Like orcas, lions, and many other species, cows live in matriarchal groups led by a female. She plays a crucial role in maintaining the relationships and well-being of those in her herd.
To learn more about cows, Thinking Cows: A Review of Cognition, Emotion, and the Social Lives of Domestic Cows, a white paper from The Someone Project.
All moms deserve a break, especially our rescued farm animal moms like Liberty! Support the care of our rescued animal residents with a one-time gift while we give Liberty cow extra pampering this Mother’s Day by giving her a blowout (brushing)!
