Why do cows run away from people?

Lately I've been wanting to pet a cow, because I WANT to!

Dad told me that I wouldn't want to do that because they're dirty and they **** everywhere. I mentioned to him that I haven't pet a cow since a school field trip to a Kleinpeter dairy farm back in Louisiana, where I was able to pet a calf.

So we were taking a drive up to an old mining town (this was last week). We drove into this lush green forest up in the mountains, and we came across some cows that were standing in the middle of the road in front of us. Dad stopped and said, "Mikaela nows your chance.", so I get out and approach them (not to fast, but slowly). The cows looked at me, then they started hurrying into the bushes and got away from me. I was really irritated, and these weren't dairy cows either!

This wasn't the first time this happened to me. We were on a trip in California to visit a family member of my mom's third ex-husband. His father lived out in the country side. We drove past these tall grassy hills on winding roads, and there were cows everywhere grazing. Everyone hears that famous phrase on that cheese commercial advertising for "Real California Milk" saying, "Happy cows come from California.". They were right! These cows were fat and happy, but it didn't look like they were dairy cows, although, they had tags on their ears.

We decided to stop and take a picture of one close to the fences that aligned the hills. I wanted to pet it, so I approached it (at a normal pace). It looked up at me and stared, and then it ran off to some other cows.

I'm just so frustrated!!! Why can't I just pet a freaking cow for once!?

It is natural instinct for animals to move away from strangers. Unless and animal has been naturally exposed to constant contact with humans from birth like in a petting zoo, it is animals natural instinct to move away from humans. We are a different species, we can pose a threat to them. It is just survival instinct of every species. Do not take it personally.

If you wish to pet a cow, it will have to be requested to a farmer himself and he will have to rope it and bring it to you to pet. The animal will not wait for you to approach it.

Nah, all that work just to take down a cow and force it to someone who wants to pet it? That just isn't right in my opinion, especially if that critter doesn't want to do do something it doesn't like.

That does make sense, but I kind of wonder if it's also the fact that I eat beef. Do they have that sixth sense that let's them know that I like my steak medium-rare?

You mean you would rather pet a wild cow than a cow that was meant to be pet?

I don't see the big deal, go to your local fair and they will have cows that are meant to be pet. I've never heard of a wild cow, but wild animals are not meant to be pet.

edit: What cow is not a dairy cow? You have the male bull and the dairy cow that produces milk. I don't think there are much variations in cow selection.

Funny KrasnoiZvezdy!!!!!!!

Lol. Your first two lines got me cracking up now.

Alright, I get your point. I would never want to pet a male cow though (bull), knowing how aggressive they can turn out to be.

Well, it's not like I saw a dairy farm anywhere near in the mountain and out in the hills. For the California hills, there might be one somewhere, but up in a mountain...Why would there be a dairy farm up in the mountains?

The people who live in the mountain would use the cows for the milk and save themselves a trip to the grocery store.

Many people who own dairy cows drink their cow's milk instead of going to the grocery store.

Yes, that is true. I would rather have my fresh organic milk than go to a grocery store that has their milk containing growth hormone.

I enjoyed reading this and the responses. Hope its okay to laugh. Your best bet is to go to a county fair unless you were hoping to coax one that doesn't know you? I think one breed of cows is used primarily for milk producing, because they produce a greater quantity of milk - Holstein cows. Darn those cows that run away from KrasnoiZvezdy.

You can have all the laughs you like, Lynn.

I would love to go to a county fair. I hear they have them up here in Utah all the time. I haven't been to one yet.

I would see Holstein all the time when I lived down in Arizona being used in the dairy. The sad thing was that these cows looked skinny and not well fed compared to the California cows.

Like Lynn, I hope y'all don't mind me laughing.

Y'all live in the city don't you? Unless someone's made a pet out of it, most cows on farms move away from people because usually interacting with people means having something unpleasant done, like shots, the vet sticking his arm up their er, well, you know or stuff like that.

Dr. Skipper there are all kinds of cows in the world, lots of different kinds of breeds, just like dogs and cats. There are dairy cows that are bred to produce lots of milk. There are beef cattle who are bred to produce, well, beef. Some breeds of cows are supposed to be kind of skinny looking. Dairy cows are meant to put the feed they eat into producing milk, not body fat.

All that aside, I would caution you against trying to pet some farmer's cows without getting permission first. Those cows are that person's livelihood. They may not take kindly to you "harassing" (from their perspective) their cows.

My suggestion if you want to pet a cow is to go to a fair or 4H show and ask to pet one that someone brought to show. Those cows are used to being handled.

I once had a cow run up to me. A calf. It was the cutest thing. It saw me from across a field and just came a-runnin'. Cute little guy just wanted some love.

If only that could happen to me (I'm jealous much. lol)...

This isn't meant to be as serious as it sounds but go to a butcher shop or the meat department of your supermarket. Or to McDonalds, home of the Big Mac
Now if you were a cow of normal intelligence would you feel friendly towards a human?

Many more reasons to get me to cry.

Okay! I get it now!

Awww I'm sorry
I didn't mean to make you cry. I lived on a farm until I was 4 years old. My next oldest sister and I each had a pet calf. Or so we were led to believe. Both were later sold along with the rest of the cows. Damn... that's sad too.
I'm going to shut up now.

I didn't really cry.

It was just sad to be reminded that "what you kill is what you eat".

I have a 10 acre farm surrounded by KY beef cattle. When I first moved here 6 years ago, I learned to keep Leo leashed up, my eskie dog that love to be free, because the first thing I knew it.....it was running through the fence & chasing my neighbor's cows....not a good thing for him to do unless he wants to get shot.

I was outside one time after moving here & I heard this strange sound.....sounded like a large cat howling....but it was coming from my neighbor's truck who was driving across his field with the cows following right behind him.....he was calling his cows....has them trained to do that also with feed in the back of his truck.....saves having to have cowboys rounding up your cattle that's for sure.

The cows love to huddle in the corner of their farm closest to my fence....but like you....every time I walk toward them...they move away from the fence & out of reach & then just stand there & give me a dirty look..

Just to sort of educate you on what cattle are called:
female cattle = cows
male non-neutered cattle used for breeding = bulls
male neutered cattle = steers

My first experience with cattle was on my great uncles farm in Nebraska....we would go out every day in the hay wagon on the back of the tractor & feed them.....had no desire to go back to the city after that experience & had been craving living on a farm every since....finally that dream came true 6 years ago....but I'm only going to have my horse here & maybe some chickens if I ever really get settled.

Think the reason why cattle move away from you all the time has been mostly touched on. Most of them have been herded around with many other cattle when they are moved & really never have human touch unless they had been hand raised.....cattle is basically a business not like they are domesticated animals like our dogs & cats. The ones at the fairs or the ones that the 4/H works with have been used to being handled & it makes a huge difference in TRUST.

Cute thread.....I always did the same thing....stop the car & go to the fence where the cattle or horses are standing & they always move....even horses that are used to being touched...they just don't like people approaching them that they don't know. The grungy ones on the farms are also covered with ticks & mites.....so it's not really the best idea to ho handling them either.

My father had 20 acres of land and our neighbours had beef cattle. One day, their cattle figured our grass was greener than their grass and they toppled the fencing. My mother woke up to a cow licking her bedroom window

It had also rained the night before so the dirt road was now muck and trampled by a herd of cattle. My father called the neighbours and together they herded the cattle back onto the property and repaired the fencing. What a day! I guess you could say my mother was not in a good moo-oo-d after that

A steer can be different things depending where you live and so can an oxen. Confusing I know.

Of course there are different breeds for milk and for beef. The beef cattle are just bred for good meat ad don't produce as much milk. A lot of dairy cattle is used for meat as well, when they are too old. And of course most bull calves are culled and eaten.

Around here cows have to be outside the whole summer, it is the law. So they get used to cars and people and all that. I haven't had cows running from me. However I have been "petted" by a bunch of heifers and it was me who did the running and they came after me. They have their own sense of humor. One sort of snuck up behind me slowly also and I didn't notice and it went BOO! (Or moo?)

Also I must taste good because cows love to lick me. ???

hey come down to India here the city cows are damn friendly....trust me You would'nt beleive it but they go and wait expectantly at the entrance of small restaurants which feed them regularly!!!! I also know of a cow who followed her master to the tea shop every mornign and would'nt leave till she was fed a chocolate bar....great is'nt it....I LOVE COWS tooo..... love smile

We all know how much cows make great milk after eating a chocolate bar.

You just need a remote control car to interest them; they are just like young men

Ha ha!

I really enjoyed this video!