It’s bad enough we eat them by the billions, but cows are also laughed at as some of the stupidest creatures on the planet.
But are there any truths in the stereotype of the cow having the IQ of a bag of bricks? Or is there more to this sweet, gentle creature than meets the eye?
Let’s find out, shall we?
How Smart Are Cows? Here’s What the Science Says
Surprise, surprise! Cows aren’t as dimwitted as we think. Sure, they can’t compete against dogs, dolphins, or primates, but they’re still pretty smart—and we have decades of scientific research to prove that.
So, without further ado, here’s what the science says about bovine intelligence!
1. Cows learn from each other
The smartest animals use a learning method called social learning to learn from each other, thus allowing them to avoid the potentially dangerous trial-and-error way of knowing the consequences of certain actions. For example, instead of jumping off a cliff itself, an individual could watch another animal fling itself off said cliff to know such an action can lead to a quick, messy death.
Cows are capable of social learning, which means they learn advantageous behaviors by simply observing the members of their herd. This lets them know what food they can eat, where to find food, what to do in specific situations, and what non-bovine species mean trouble.
Other animals with this ability include elephants, orangutans, chimpanzees, dolphins, dogs, and humans.
2. Cows think
Sure, cows may not have the capacity to ponder the secrets of the universe, but they’re capable of simple thoughts. This ability is impressive enough that it allows them to quickly learn various tasks, distinguish between complex stimuli, tell humans apart, and extrapolate a hidden object’s location based on clues.
Studies have shown that these creatures can figure out how to open doors, find their way through a maze by following a sound, learn simple behaviors through training, and other amazing feats. They can also anticipate future events based on past experiences, which is why they line up whenever a farmer comes along; they know it’s feeding time!
Like humans, cows have different intelligence levels; in the aforementioned maze experiment, four cows scored extremely well, while the remaining two only scored 75%.
Also like humans, stress and anxiety can negatively affect how a cow performs on intelligence tests.
3. Cows have a great memory
Cows have an excellent memory, according to researchers. In a peer-reviewed study called The Psychology of Cows, the research team trained cows for five days regarding their feeder’s location. Six weeks later, the creatures still remembered where to find this feeder.
People who spend a lot of time with cows can also attest to this fact. Many say cows can remember and distinguish between specific sounds, such as the noises different vehicles make. This allows them to tell that a passing truck isn’t the same as a farmer bringing them their food.
Cows can also remember and recognize different cow faces, which allows them to tell their species apart from others. They can even discriminate between people who’ve been cruel to them and those who’ve been gentle.
4. Cows have spatial intelligence
Spatial intelligence is the awareness and understanding of one’s surroundings.
Cows have spatial intelligence, which lets them know their relation to their environment. Because of this, you won’t find cows walking into walls or jumping into lakes—they recognize that those things exist, take up space, have specific locations, and can result in consequences if interacted with. It’s thanks to spatial intelligence (as well as a great memory and the ability to think) that cows can navigate mazes.
In fact, prey animals such as cows evolved to have spatial intelligence, as it helps them survive in a world full of dangers such as creatures that see them as dinner.
Cows can also see in the dark. To ensure the herd’s safety come nightfall, they use a complex system of mooing to warn every member of predators.
5. Cows have emotional intelligence
Did you know cows are capable of extremely complex emotions such as love, happiness, joy, loneliness, boredom, and regret? They can even hold grudges! So yes, cows are, in fact, emotionally intelligent animals.
It’s thanks to this that these creatures form lasting social bonds with members of the herd. They make friends, recognize family members, and choose to stay physically closest to preferred individuals. Mothers and calves form strong bonds. Cows can even become strongly attached to people, similar to dogs!
Both researchers and farmers have long known that when a cow is separated from its herd, it experiences stress, while when it’s near its favorite friends, it relaxes. This is why farmers make sure not to separate cows from the herd.
Sadly, this emotional intelligence also means cows are devastated by the death of their loved ones. When calves are taken to be slaughtered, their mothers spend days wailing due to grief.
6. Cows have personalities
When it comes to personalities, no two cows are exactly the same!
Cows can be shy, bold, laidback, gregarious, skittish, crafty, temperamental, mean, or a bunch of other things. Some are even prone to fear, loneliness, and anxiety.
The herd isn’t just a random collection of mindless brutes. Cows have social hierarchies that inform each individual of their place in the group.
At the very top of the herd are “boss cows”: individuals that shove aside any cow in their way as they make toward the feed bunk. No other cows can eat until these leaders have had their fill.
Boss cows spend most of their time with other boss cows, while those belonging to middle and lower ranks stick to their own “class.”
How Smart Are Cows Compared to Other Animals?
Cows are indeed smart. But how do they fare when compared to other animals?
Pigs are highly intelligent animals that can learn new things quickly. They can remember their names, recognize their reflection in the mirror, guide sheep like a shepherd dog, and even trick people. They can also be trained to do tricks. In addition, they’re extremely active and enjoy playing with toys such as balls.
Pigs are much smarter than cows.
Horses have larger brains than cows as well as an impressive understanding of cause and effect, which makes them easy and quick to train. They also have a good temperament, show more empathy toward humans, and form strong bonds with humans.
Horses are smarter than cows.
Sheep have a good memory. They can recognize faces and navigate mazes. They’re also docile, gentle, trainable, and easier to handle.
Sheep and cows likely have the same level of intelligence.
7 Fascinating Cow Facts
Read on for more surprising facts about cows!
1. Cows express emotions through their face and head
To know how a cow is feeling, observe its face and head.
Fear and anxiety are usually expressed through the eyes. The greater the amount of white you can see, the worse a cow is feeling. When a mother is separated from her calf, both of their eyes will show more white.
A cow’s emotional state can also be determined by the posture of its ears. For example, relaxed ears mean the cow is feeling fine.
What’s interesting is that even a cow’s nose can tell us how said cow is feeling. Specifically, positive feelings cause the nose temperature to drop significantly.
Cows also express their emotions using vocalizations and body language.
2. Cows enjoy playtime
Cows have fun together in various ways. They frolic and chase one another, rub their heads together, engage in play-fighting, and even play with toys such as balls and cattle brushes.
Play allows young cows to learn which behaviors are safe and which can cause them trouble. It also establishes social bonds within the herd and prevents boredom.
Cows play with one another when they aren’t sleeping, ruminating, foraging, or socializing with others in the herd.
3. Cows don’t sleep much
In general, cows only sleep 4 hours a day. They do spend a lot of time lying down – 16 hours in fact.
4. Cows spend most of the day eating
Up to a third of a cow’s day is spent ruminating – or chewing and regurgitating food for further chewing. They prefer doing this while lying down.
5. Cows have a wide visual field
The visual field of cows is 330 degrees, allowing them to see almost all around them. As prey animals, this is important, as it helps them detect predators before it’s too late.
These animals can see green, blue, and yellow, but have a tough time seeing red.
6. Cows befriend other animals
Cows don’t like being lonely. So what happens when there are no other cows to socialize with? Simple – they socialize with other animals! Cows can develop strong bonds with pigs, goats, dogs, humans, and other creatures within their vicinity.
7. Cows have relatively long lives
A cow’s natural life expectancy is about 20 years, though some live to see 25. You can determine a cow’s age by examining its teeth. In the dairy industry, however, cows are typically killed before they reach the age of five.
Conclusion
You read it right here – cows are smart! Sure, they’re unlikely to beat you in a game of chess, but they’re capable of learning, remembering faces, forming strong bonds with herd members and other animals, and many other things we associate with the most intelligent animals on the planet.
So the next time you feel like making a cow the butt of a joke, remember: these are thinking, feeling beings that deserve our love and respect.