Hug a cow
Cow Hugging: Yes it's a Thing
Cows can be lovable, huggable creatures — and a bonding session might be just what you need.
When it comes to cuddly animals, chances are the first animal you think of isn’t a cow. (It wasn’t ours either!).
But at least one California-based nonprofit, the Gentle Barn, is offering cow hug therapy to help people who are feeling down or anxious feel just a little bit better.
Other farm sanctuaries offer similar cuddling sessions with bovines too. It’s also popular in the Netherlands, where it’s been practiced in the rural provinces for about a decade.
In short: Just what it sounds like. For one hour, you can book a private session to cuddle, pet, or just hang out with a cow at the barn.
If you want, you can bring one extra person to the session, too — though two people are the max in order not to overwhelm the cow.
The Gentle Barn claims that this can help you feel grounded, rejuvenated, and relaxed. They even suggest it could help combat compassion fatigue.
And all around the world, people seem to be enjoying (and posting on social) their cow-hug experiences.
Well, cow hugging is kind of new, but a 2011 study did show that animal-assisted therapy with farm animals — specifically cows — was beneficial in reducing depression in people with psychiatric disorders. So maybe the folks at the Gentle Barn are on to something.
Plus, there is research to support the idea of animal-assisted therapy more generally.
A 2014 study has shown that dogs, cats, fish — even robotic animals — can boost our health in several ways, like lowering blood pressure and making us feel:
- less alone
- bored
- sad
A 2019 study, for example, found that watching dog videos or interacting with a dog helped lower students’ stress levels and boosted their mood.
In addition, a 2020 study found that animal-assisted therapy with a bird could boost happiness in chronic psychiatric patients who had been living in a nursing home in Tehran, Iran.
A review article also found benefits for people with:
- depression
- autism
- dementia
- schizophrenia
In addition, when we hug someone — including animals — it can release the chemical oxytocin, a hormone that has been associated with:
- bonding
- love
- happiness
- less stress
Hugs can also reduce fear and anxiety while boosting self-esteem.
Cows are pretty big animals, sometimes weighing thousands of pounds, so if they don’t like the idea or they’re feeling a little hugged-out at the moment, they could probably hurt you with a kick.
You can ask first to confirm farm sanctuary staff and caretakers first make sure the cows aren’t feeling too overwhelmed. You could also ask what’s the best way to approach the cows. The farms and sanctuaries that offer this practice tend to choose cows that don’t mind a lot of human interaction.
An older 2007 study on cows has shown that cows do like being massaged in certain places on their body, including their upper back and neck.
While there hasn’t been a ton of peer-reviewed research into cow hugging directly, there is evidence backing up the idea of animal-assisted therapy because it can help lower tension, ease sadness and depression, and lower your heartbeat. And cows — even though they’re big — can give great hugs as we pat their necks and back gently.
Cow Hugging: Yes it's a Thing
Cows can be lovable, huggable creatures — and a bonding session might be just what you need.
When it comes to cuddly animals, chances are the first animal you think of isn’t a cow. (It wasn’t ours either!).
But at least one California-based nonprofit, the Gentle Barn, is offering cow hug therapy to help people who are feeling down or anxious feel just a little bit better.
Other farm sanctuaries offer similar cuddling sessions with bovines too. It’s also popular in the Netherlands, where it’s been practiced in the rural provinces for about a decade.
In short: Just what it sounds like.
For one hour, you can book a private session to cuddle, pet, or just hang out with a cow at the barn.
If you want, you can bring one extra person to the session, too — though two people are the max in order not to overwhelm the cow.
The Gentle Barn claims that this can help you feel grounded, rejuvenated, and relaxed. They even suggest it could help combat compassion fatigue.
And all around the world, people seem to be enjoying (and posting on social) their cow-hug experiences.
Well, cow hugging is kind of new, but a 2011 study did show that animal-assisted therapy with farm animals — specifically cows — was beneficial in reducing depression in people with psychiatric disorders. So maybe the folks at the Gentle Barn are on to something.
Plus, there is research to support the idea of animal-assisted therapy more generally.
A 2014 study has shown that dogs, cats, fish — even robotic animals — can boost our health in several ways, like lowering blood pressure and making us feel:
- less alone
- bored
- sad
A 2019 study, for example, found that watching dog videos or interacting with a dog helped lower students’ stress levels and boosted their mood.
In addition, a 2020 study found that animal-assisted therapy with a bird could boost happiness in chronic psychiatric patients who had been living in a nursing home in Tehran, Iran.
A review article also found benefits for people with:
- depression
- autism
- dementia
- schizophrenia
In addition, when we hug someone — including animals — it can release the chemical oxytocin, a hormone that has been associated with:
- bonding
- love
- happiness
- less stress
Hugs can also reduce fear and anxiety while boosting self-esteem.
Cows are pretty big animals, sometimes weighing thousands of pounds, so if they don’t like the idea or they’re feeling a little hugged-out at the moment, they could probably hurt you with a kick.
You can ask first to confirm farm sanctuary staff and caretakers first make sure the cows aren’t feeling too overwhelmed. You could also ask what’s the best way to approach the cows.
The farms and sanctuaries that offer this practice tend to choose cows that don’t mind a lot of human interaction.
An older 2007 study on cows has shown that cows do like being massaged in certain places on their body, including their upper back and neck.
While there hasn’t been a ton of peer-reviewed research into cow hugging directly, there is evidence backing up the idea of animal-assisted therapy because it can help lower tension, ease sadness and depression, and lower your heartbeat. And cows — even though they’re big — can give great hugs as we pat their necks and back gently.
Do you want to keep peace in your soul? Hug the cow more often
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Image copyright, Getty Images
Cow hugging (koe knuffelen in Dutch) is more than a wellness trend, and certainly more than just "mi-mi-mi".
This activity, it turns out, is incredibly beneficial for mental health - no wonder its popularity is growing all over the world. nine0012
The world of wellness is full of whimsical trends - all to soothe our body and soul. For the sake of peace of mind, we are ready to do yoga surrounded by goats (here is a video about it) or take sound baths, plunging us into a pleasant nap in which we forget about all problems and, as some say, "clear" (see video).
And here is another "help yourself" practice. She was born in the Netherlands, which is not surprising - after all, we are talking about cows, and the Dutch cow, as you know, is one of the oldest breeds of dairy cattle. But it turns out, not milk alone. nine0005
Hug a Dutch cow - and your state of mind will begin to change, you will feel serene and peaceful, adherents of the practice say.
Are you already smiling? You see, it is useful even just to imagine how you hug a cow.
- Strange friendship between animals of different species - what connects them?
- A woman or a cow: who is more important in India?
- "Save Penka". Bulgarian cow ran into EU bureaucracy
- Why do cows line up? nine0024
But seriously, koe knuffelen uses the natural healing properties of close and friendly contact between man and animal.
Do you still not understand? Think back to how you feel when you pet a cat curled up in your lap. Or hug your dog, standing up on its hind legs, to show how much he loves you.
Physical contact with a living being, from whom you do not expect anything bad, to whom you can comfortably snuggle up - this is the essence of what happens during hugging with cows. nine0005
Yes, they are much bigger than a cat or a dog, but that's the point. The more friend, the more heat comes from him.
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,The bigger your friend, the more warmth you get from him
To become an avid cow hugger, you can start by visiting a special farm where you'll find exactly the kind of animals that love it too. (Not all cows are suitable for hugging. Some of them do not like closeness with a person at all - such is their nature.)
Cows have a slightly higher body temperature than humans and have a slower heartbeat. And, of course, there is something to hug. In combination, this acts healing for our psyche and incredibly soothing.
Some visitors to the farm spend two or three hours cuddling up next to a large and warm cow.
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,The future cuddling cow can be seen already in her calf, the farm owners say. And if a cow licks you - this is the height of confidence. nine0005
"Cows are generally very calm animals.
They don't fight, they don't get into trouble," explains the owner of one such farm in the Netherlands. "We have special cuddling cows, next to which you can sit or lie down - as you like."
"Special cuddle cows are usually more calm and patient. You can already see the future cuddle cow in the calf - the character can be seen almost immediately," she says in the video below. to impose on the animal. When the cow gets bored, she just gets up and leaves." nine0005
Hugging a cow is believed to bring a positive outlook on life and reduce stress by increasing the level of oxytocin in the human body, a hormone important in human relationships.
Oxytocin is known to induce feelings of contentment, reduced anxiety, and a sense of calm around a friend - in this case, a friendly cow.
The soothing, calming effect we feel when we stretch out on the couch with a cat by our side seems to be enhanced when we pet a larger mammal. nine0005
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,Feeling calm with a friend and surrounded by friendly cows
This healthy pastime was born over a decade ago in the Dutch countryside and is now part of a wider local movement to get people back to nature and rural life.
But cowhugging has spread beyond the borders of the country and now has its fans in Switzerland and the United States, where individual farms offer cowhugging sessions, emphasizing the importance of this in defeating stress and indicating the pleasure you will get. nine0005
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,And when the cow gets tired, she just gets up and leaves
By the way, these hugs can make animals happy too. A 2007 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science states that cows show signs of deep relaxation by stretching out, closing their eyes and tilting their large ears back when their backs and necks are stroked.
A warm, cordial relationship with cattle seems to be just what the doctor ordered. And the vet too. nine0005
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Based on BBC Reel and BBC Travel.
# A new trend in the Netherlands is hugging cows to relieve stress
animals, nine0097 cow
Milk Blog: # A new trend has emerged in the Netherlands - cuddling with cows to relieve stress
A stress-relieving wellness trend has emerged in the Netherlands.
The practice was called "koe knuffelen", which means "hugging a cow" in Dutch. This is reported by the Air Force, writes agronews.ua.
Proponents of this trend say that the warm body and large size of the cows contribute to calming and the production of the hormone oxytocin, which, in turn, helps in the fight against stress. The corresponding service is provided by several farms throughout the country. nine0005
“Hugging a cow is a unique experience. It has been proven that the heartbeat of a cow has a relaxing effect on a person, ”says the website of one of the farms.
According to Prairie Conlon, professional consultant and Clinical Guideline for the Vet Consultation Platform, humans benefit from exposure to horses. And it's not about riding, but about spending time with animals.
“Because the cow, like man, is a carnivorous animal and has similar behavior to it, I absolutely understand how this can be useful for therapy.
