Whether you have reared cows or just being around them, you must have been thrilled by the way they bellow their moos. Deep and substantially loud, there is no way these moos are not catching your attention. But why really do cows moo?
Cows use different sound pitches to express various emotions. Cows moo for several reasons: to find their herd mates, calves, or mothers; to indicate hunger; to attract a mate; to warn of danger; to show they are content; and to express pain.
What if I told each of these moos has its distinct accent? What if I finally told why that cow has been strangely mooing in the deep of the night? These are some of the tasty nuggets I will be sharing with you in this article on cow mooing.
Why and When Do Cows Moo?
Let us explore some of the most prevalent reasons why cows moo.
Cows Moo When Hungry
A famished cow would moo to attract the attention of the farmer. Such moos are indicative of the need for hay. Hungry cows can also moo to other cows who may have found fodder to share with them.
Cows Moo When They are Stressed
Cows can feel stress. Such stress can arise from physical exertions like sustained pain, unfavorable weather conditions, or noise.
Cows can also feel emotional stress, as typical of when a cow is separated from its family or introduced to new surroundings. It is not unusual for cows to moo with a higher pitch when stressed.
Cows Can Moo When Calling Out to Friends
Of course, cows form emotional bonds between themselves. Remember, these folks are herd animals. When a cow moves from one environment to another, it will attempt to call out on its former friends via moos.
Aside from mooing to reach out to previous acquaintances, cows can still moo when acclimatizing to a new habitat.
Still Mooing, Perhaps Your Cow Needs to be Milked
It is only natural for a cow to feel pain when its udder is full, and you don’t milk it. It is far more discomfiting for a mothering cow.
With their udder almost bursting with milk, the cow would feel significant distortions to its normal life, in terms of pains when walking or even as far as developing mastitis. Therefore, you can expect it to moo persistently to call the attention of the owner.
Mother Cows Moo When Calling Out to Their Calves or Vice Versa
The relationship between a mothering cow and its calf is more than just being filial – it is usually emotionally robust. Therefore, when they are separated – say a mother cow from its calf – both could moo loudly when calling out to each other.
Scientific research has consolidated this as higher pitch moos (with greater frequency) strongly indicate either party (mother cow or calf) reaching out to the other, especially when they appear to be missing each other.
Why Does a Cow Moo Constantly?
It is improbable that a fine cow (in that it has no issues) moos perpetually. Aside from being a means of communication, cows commonly deploy their moos as distress calls.
This means they will only moo when they have a necessary need or a pressing situation to be assuaged.
Is It Normal for Cows to Moo at Night?
As discomfiting (or strange) as it sounds, cows can moo at night. However, persistent mooing from your cow at night, when it should be sleeping, is suggestive of something amiss.
A Cow Would Moo at Night When a Predator Stalks It
When cows moo at night, it could be because they are threatened. Savvy predators like wild dogs, coyotes, or mountain lions (depending on your region) have mastered the art of night hunting, maximizing the darkness to reduce the defenses or responsiveness of their prey.
The said night hunters have a penchant for hunting calves, elderly cows, sick cows (or generally cattle whose strength wouldn’t suffice in defending itself) at night.
A cow could moo at night to call out for protection from its owner or herd when it sees a predator at night.
Aside from predators, a cow would still moo at night if it has lost its way. When a cow grazes outside its enclosure without its owner’s keen guidance, it could get so lost and wander about at night, mooing as it struggles to find its way home.
Such moos aim to either call out the herd, who would respond with moos for guidance (to the lost cow), or help the owner come to its rescue and guide it back home.
A Cow Would Moo at Night When Hungry
A famished cow has no problem mooing at night to call out for food. Just like those notorious hunger pangs you feel, your cow would be in distress too when hungry.
Generally, cows are smart enough to know when they moo consistently, they have high chances of catching the attention of the disturbed owner. So the cow wouldn’t readily relent till its need has been satisfied.
Do Cows Moo for no Reason?
Unless it is mooing playfully when enjoying jolly time with its crew, a cow is highly unlikely to moo for just no reason.
How Do You Stop a Cow from Mooing?
Stopping a cow from mooing is no rocket science. You simply need to examine the mooing cow, identify why it is mooing, and appease that need. If the requirement is correctly fulfilled, you have 98% chances of the cow ceasing its moos.
Can Cows Moo in Different Accents?
This is something that would definitely excite you. Just like your jolly British friend speaks his English differently from your American friend (regarding accent variations), so too do cows moo in differing accents.
Farmers from West Country have strongly argued that their cows moo with the local accent. Of course, it will take a considerable amount of keenness to pick out the variations in the moo accents, but scientists have established moo with accents unique to its herd.
Renowned Phonetic professor at the University of London, John Wells, lent validations to the farmers’ claims, postulating that these moos tend to have differing dialects determined by the cow’s peer group.
How Far Can a Cow’s Moo be Heard?
The intensity of the cow moos commonly depends on the intensity of the reason behind the moo. Understandably, a cow’s moo in the face of a predator would be louder than a cow’s moo playing around with its folk. Nonetheless, it is rare for a cow’s moo to be heard more than five miles away.
Do All Cows Moo?
Yes, all cows moo – they will being that moos are means of communication. Communication is fundamental for herd animals. Nevertheless, all cows will not moo with the same intensity or frequency.
How Often Do Cows Moo?
Cows would moo as regularly as they have a message to pass across or discomfort to be relieved.
How Long Do Cows Moo?
Cows can be untiring. They will moo as long as the factor causing them to moo remains.
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Mike is the Founder of Familylifeshare. Mike is well-knowledged in marriage, parenting, dogs, blogging and committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with his readers. Know more about Mike from here.
