How to Calm Cows

Co-authored by Mari Cartagenova

Last Updated: August 6, 2024 References

A variety of situations and things can cause cows to stress easily: being moved to a new home and getting used to new surroundings, owners and routines; being handled rough by inexperienced and/or irresponsible handlers; or pain from illness or injury. Whatever the reason, there are different things you can try to get a herd of cows to calm down or use to get them more accustomed and more relaxed around you. Read below to find out more.

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Quite often after cattle have been handled rough or have gone through some rough, stressful times, they will calm down on their own if you leave them alone. Simply leave them feed and water and don't do anything to them or with them for a few hours. ^{[1]
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Never step nor push too far into a cow's flight or comfort zone otherwise you will cause unrest. It is preferable that you keep out of a cow's flight zone in order for her to remain calm and quiet. ^{[2]
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3
Talk to them in soft, quiet tones. All animals respond better and more calmly to you and your needs if you are calm and quiet around them. Cattle have very good hearing and can hear you just fine when you're talking low. You may be the type that prefers to talk to them, or one that chooses to say little to nothing at all. It is your choice which you want to use to best get those animals to calm down. ^{[3]
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Research source}
- Some cattle folk find that reading a book to a herd of cows will not only get them to relax, but to get them used to the sound of their new owner's voice, if the animals are stressed and panicked about the presence of a complete stranger.
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Don't think about anything or worry about anything. Just live in the moment, breathe deep, and think about literally nothing. When you're calm, they're calm. ^{[4]
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Research source}
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5
Let them come to you. Let them choose when it is in their best interests to approach you. Cows are naturally curious, and when they've recovered their fears and curiosity takes over, they may approach you and sniff you over.
- If it's safe to be in the same pen as them, simply standing in one spot will be sufficient to get them to come to you. They can smell you from a distance and study you, and make their minds up as to whether you're a threat or a friend. Remain calm throughout the whole process.
 - This may also be a good time to talk to them quietly if you feel the need to do so.
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Once they've calmed down or you feel they have relaxed enough for you to not be around anymore, it would be a good time to simply leave with a good frame of mind.

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Why are cows aggressive sometimes?

Mari Cartagenova
Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator
Mari Cartagenova is a Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator based in Westford, Massachusetts. Mari has been seeing and speaking to Spirits since she was a child, and she loves to share her psychic gifts and abilities to help others. She specializes in mediumship, intuitive psychic guidance, past life or soul reading, and animal communication. Mari is the 2019 Award-Winning Best American Psychic and a Certified Advanced Spirit Worker.

Mari Cartagenova

Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator

Expert Answer

Cows can sometimes be aggressive, especially if they have babies nearby. Generally, cows are calm and gentle animals, but their sensitivity means they can become protective and defensive in certain situations. If you encroach on their space or try to take their calves, they might charge to protect their young. So it's important to respect their space and not bother them, especially when they have calves nearby.

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How long will it take for a bull to calm down after he has been handled badly; will he calm down at all?

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As much time as the bull will need. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to months. Patience is needed, and you yourself need to be calm and quiet yourself around him, but also watch your back because bulls can be unpredictable and dangerous. Don't do anything to stir him up, or allow anyone to do anything to stir him up and vent his frustration on them.

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I have a cow that keeps on head butting me but it still eats out of my hands and lets me pat it. What's happening to it?

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Either your bovine is being playful to you, or you haven't taught it to respect your space and it is pushing you around because you are letting it.

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Tips

Be calm and quiet yourself. ^{[5]
X
Research source} You can't expect cattle to calm down if you're not calm as well.

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Leaving them alone may be the next best thing to simply being with them and "forcing" them to calm down.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you are approaching a cow go to their side. If you go from behind or in front, they can't see you because their eyes are on the sides of their head.
If they are calm and laying down, sit with them or just crouch down to pet them gently.

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Warnings

Cattle are dangerous animals, and must be respected regardless of size, stature, sex or age.

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The biggest threat may be the time when they are highly stressed, and the time that they seem calm to you but may suddenly react if they're not totally relaxed about you.

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