New Study Suggests Cattle-Aided Mental Health Therapy Holds Promise

A recent study conducted by researchers from New York University (NYU) and the US Military Academy at West Point sheds light on the potential efficacy of cow cuddling, also known as cow hugging, as a form of animal-assisted therapy (AAI) for mental health conditions. Led by Katherine Compitus of NYU’s Silver School of Social Work and Sonya M. Bierbower of the Department of Chemistry and Life Science at West Point, the investigation explored the therapeutic benefits of interactions with cattle, with an intriguing discovery: women exhibited greater receptivity to bovine-assisted therapy compared to men.

The study, carried out at a micro-farm named Surrey Hills Sanctuary in New York State, involved 11 volunteers ranging from ages 13 to 79. Each participant spent 45 minutes with one of two steers, each exhibiting varying degrees of sociability. Following the sessions, volunteers completed surveys and discussed their experiences, revealing predominantly positive responses.

One participant expressed feeling special when the shy bull, named Callum, finally approached, while another admitted falling in love with cows after the session. These testimonials align with previous research suggesting that interactions with farm animals may offer therapeutic benefits for individuals undergoing psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

However, the study yielded an unexpected finding: the steers displayed a strong preference for interacting with women over men, leading to stronger attachment behaviors reported by female participants.

The researchers acknowledge the need for further investigation to determine whether this preference stems from inherent animal behavior or if women are more inclined to initiate interactions with the steers. Nonetheless, the study underscores the potential of bovine-assisted therapy as an effective treatment model that not only benefits human participants but also enriches the well-being of the cattle involved.

Traditionally, therapy animals encompass dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits, but the study suggests that farm animals, including cattle, can also play a therapeutic role when ethical considerations for both humans and animals are prioritized.

Published in the peer-reviewed research journal Human-Animal Interactions, this study contributes to our understanding of the therapeutic potential of animal-assisted interventions and paves the way for further exploration into the symbiotic relationship between humans and animals in mental health therapy.