Get out, men! Cows prefer to be cuddled by women, research shows
- Cuddling cows can be an effective way to relieve stress and anxiety
- Cows show a strong preference for interactions with females compared to males
They aren’t the first animal you think of when considering therapy.
But cuddling cows can be an effective way to ease stress and anxiety, especially if you’re a woman, a new study shows.
Researchers recruited 11 participants and two Holstein bulls named Magnus and Callum to take part in their study.
The cows spent 45 minutes of contact time with each person and often smoked or licked them and accepted food from them.
They also allowed physical interactions in the form of hugs, grooming, stroking or kissing.
They aren’t the first animal you think of when considering therapy. But cuddling cows can be an effective way to ease stress and anxiety – especially if you’re a woman, a new study shows (stock image)
The animals rarely made unfriendly or aggressive gestures toward them, although they occasionally refused to interact.
All participants reported having an overall positive session with the cows and most said they would recommend cow therapy to a friend.
Analysis also revealed that the cows showed a strong preference for interactions with females compared to males, and in turn the females reported stronger attachment behavior towards the cows.
Dr. Katherine Compitus, one of the authors of the study from New York University, said: ‘We found in the current study that bovine assisted therapy can not only be an effective treatment model that benefits human participants, but also enrich appears to be for the cattle participants. also, as evidenced by their proximity to and continued interactions with humans.”
Analysis revealed that the cows showed a strong preference for interactions with females compared to males, and in turn the females reported stronger attachment behavior towards the cows (stock image)
One participant said she was worried the bulls would be more aggressive, but she “fell in love with cows” after the session.
‘Without further testing, it is unclear whether the animals attracted the attention of women in general, or whether the women were more likely to perform the actions compared to the male participants,’ Dr Compitus added.
‘This is exciting because it opens up a new area as to whether some therapies may be stronger primarily based on gender and not procedure.’
Dr. Sonya Bierbower, from the US Military Academy West Point, also participated in the study.
She said cows have special behavioral traits that allow them to bond with people in ways unique to their size and temperament.
The team wrote in the journal Human-Animal Interactions: ‘Cattle are herd animals and thrive in a social environment.
‘The behavioral characteristics exhibited by the oxen in this study demonstrate their desire to interact socially with people.’