Cows are herd animals with very complex social structures. They interact socially through various means, the most common being mooing.

A cow’s moo holds much information based on various scientific research. A cow’s moo may be a signal to find the calf or mother, find the herd, lure a mate, indicate they’re hungry, show contentment, raise the alarm in case of danger, or express pain.

Individual cows have distinct voices, making every moo unique. Research shows that these individualized calls make it possible for a cow to identify itself to its herd and, more importantly, a mother to her calf.

Cows can also use other means to communicate, such as grunting and wagging their tails. For this piece, let’s look deeper into cow moos, what they mean, and how you can respond to them, if necessary.