Cow Language Visualized: Insights from the Cow Communication Project

In the project Cow Language Visualized, supported by the Barth-Misset Fund and the Meertens Institute, we explored the communication of cows. Recordings were made on eight diverse farms, including intensive dairy farms, organic dairy farms, and both a large and a small cow sanctuary. These recordings captured cow communication with each other, with us, and with farmers.

For this project, we collaborated closely with Professor Leonie Cornips, whose expertise in linguistics offers a unique perspective on cow communication. Unlike approaches rooted in veterinary science, ethology, or agricultural studies, her linguistic insights open new dimensions for understanding cow language. For an overview of her scientific publications, click here.

The findings were discussed with experts, dairy farmers, and students. These results are now being utilized in educational programs at Aeres Barneveld, Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Delft, and many other institutions.

The Rhythm of the Cow

One of the most significant lessons we’ve learned is the rhythm of the cow. This rhythm is slower than that of humans and less demanding than the pace many people experience in their daily interactions. A cow takes its time to establish contact, express itself through sound, and allow another to respond. To truly understand how and what cows communicate, patience is essential. Just as you cannot force a person to speak faster, a cow cannot be compelled to adjust its tempo to match ours. Observing cows requires following their natural rhythm.

In these observations, more unfolds than initially expected. Even in our videos, we continuously discover something new—a leg being lifted, a tail moving, a patch of skin trembling, an eye blinking, or a soft humming sound. These subtleties only become apparent when attentively following the rhythm of the cow. It is likely that all these gestures are forms of communication, even if their meanings remain unknown to us.

The Cow Language Videos

The relevance of these videos is profound. Each video showcases an individual animal with its own story, unique character, and independent decision-making. They portray a cow or calf beyond its productive or economic value. Even in environments where production is central, every cow remains an individual.

The cow language videos are categorized into four groups, as outlined in the diagram above.