How does the cow tick and what does cattle psychology have to do with sustainability?

Sustainability is long-term thinking and acting, which also includes animal welfare in addition to the areas of environment, economy and social issues. The emotional world of the cow is therefore not only interesting for animal lovers or psychologists. We now know that good interaction between humans and animals results in high-quality milk and, as a result, the best hay milk cheese. One more reason why the well-being of their cows is important to WOERLE farmers. But what can a person do to make a cow feel good?

Not only do cattle have a personality, they are also intelligent and have long-term memories. They understand cause-and-effect relationships and can interact in socially complex ways. In order for the animals to feel comfortable, it is important to build a relationship with them. Our farmers have small businesses compared to other countries. The animals are not numbers, but have a name. In this way, farmers can maintain personal relationships with their animals. It also helps to understand the biological connections and psychology of cows in order to make life easier for the animals.

First, let's look at the cattle's eyes. These are cross-connected to the opposite half of the brain. The right hemisphere of the brain has the task of assessing possible dangers. This means: cows examine unknown or unexpected creatures or objects with their left eye. Conversely, this means that farmers should introduce their cattle to the unfamiliar in such a way that they can classify it with their left eye. This prevents unnecessary stress.

The eyes of cows are generally an interesting sensory organ. They sit on the side of the head and enable an all-round view of 330 degrees (see Blog). Only if you stand directly behind the animal does it not see you. Conversely, a person should not approach from behind, because then the cow will be startled. In addition, the visual acuity of cattle is lower than that of humans. Fast movements at their side should therefore be avoided because they react violently to them. And finally, the cow's eye is equipped with a reflective layer of pigment. As a result, cows see better than humans in the dark and are more sensitive to light stimuli. Farmers can also take advantage of this fact by avoiding driving the animal from a bright place to a dark one.

Not only the eyes, but also the hearing of cattle is superior to our human. Like bats, they can still hear particularly high-pitched sounds. However, since high and shrill sounds naturally indicate danger, cows react to a squeaking barn door or loud metallic noises by releasing stress hormones. Deep tones, on the other hand, have a calming effect. So we should talk people into them with a deep soothing voice.

The well-being of the animals can also be improved through physical contact. After all, cows are herd animals. This means: If a stranger approaches on the pasture, a mother cow can quickly put her horns in a fighting position. Applied to dairy cows, this means that it is important for farmers to build a relationship of trust with their animals. Various tests have shown that this should happen immediately after the birth of a calf. Stroke in the first month of life as well as nice words significantly increased the willingness of the animals to approach a stranger. If you think about vaccinations or hoof care, this is an important knowledge that benefits animal welfare and avoids unnecessary accidents.