Highland cows are famous for their long horns and shaggy coats, but beneath that striking appearance lies a surprisingly expressive and emotionally intelligent animal. These gentle cattle are not just passive grazers; they communicate, form deep social bonds, recognise people, and even grieve. In this guide, we’ll explore how Highland cows communicate, how they show emotion, and what makes them stand out in the world of cattle behaviour and intelligence.
Are Highland Cows Friendly?
Yes, Highland cows are known for their friendly and docile nature. They are less aggressive than many other cattle breeds and generally respond well to calm human interaction. Their slow movements and relaxed demeanour make them popular with smallholders, conservation grazers, and those working in animal-assisted tourism.
When raised with regular handling and gentle care, Highland cows often become comfortable around humans. Some even approach familiar people for scratches or grooming. This friendliness isn’t guaranteed in every cow — like all animals, individual temperament varies — but the breed as a whole is known for being easy to work with.
Are Highland Cows Intelligent?
Highland cows are quietly intelligent. While they’re not known for doing tricks or solving complex puzzles, they demonstrate social and emotional intelligence, excellent memory, and strong routine awareness. They learn by observation, respond to changes in tone and behaviour, and adapt well to structured environments.
Examples of Highland Cow Intelligence:
- Recognising individual humans by voice or appearance
- Remembering daily routines such as feeding and milking
- Anticipating events like opening gates or movement to new pastures
- Forming social hierarchies and recognising relationships within the herd
- Showing caution or interest toward new environments or animals
How Do Highland Cows Communicate?
Highland cows communicate through a combination of vocal sounds, body language, scent recognition, and behaviour patterns. Their communication is subtle, often quiet, but very intentional. Understanding these cues can improve animal welfare, help farmers recognise problems early, and build trust between human and cow.
1. Vocalisation
Mooing is one of the most recognisable forms of cow communication, and Highland cows use it purposefully. They do not moo constantly — instead, each vocalisation tends to have a specific purpose.
Reasons Highland Cows Moo:
- Calling to calves who have strayed or are hiding in tall grass
- Responding to other cows during separation or regrouping
- Vocalising during feeding time or when humans approach
- Communicating distress, discomfort, or surprise
- Expressing hormonal behaviour during heat cycles
Each cow has its own vocal “signature.” A University of Sydney study confirmed that cows retain individual vocal identity and can recognise each other’s voices, even across different emotional states. Highland cows, with their strong mother-calf bonds, rely heavily on this auditory recognition early in life.
2. Body Language
Most communication in Highland cattle is nonverbal. Body posture, ear and tail movement, head position, and proximity to others all convey mood, intent, and hierarchy. Cows communicate subtle changes in their state long before vocalising or acting defensively.
Common Body Language Examples:
- Head lowered with still body: Watchfulness or mild threat
- Standing squarely at a gate: Expectation (often feeding or exit)
- Lying close to another cow: Social bond or safety
- Turning the head away: Disinterest or mild avoidance
- Relaxed posture with head tilted: Curiosity or trust
Reading body language helps handlers identify which cows are dominant, which are timid, and which may be in discomfort. In small herds, cows quickly learn the preferences and movements of each other, avoiding conflict through this quiet communication.
3. Scent Communication
Scent is crucial in Highland cow social life. Cows use smell to identify herd members, detect reproductive status, and recognise their calves. Mothers imprint on their calves’ scent within minutes of birth, and calves learn to find their mothers using scent even when separated visually.
Scent-based greeting behaviours include sniffing the face or flanks, especially after time apart. Cows also use scent to explore unfamiliar objects or people. A wary cow may approach slowly and pause to sniff before making further decisions.
4. Behavioural Patterns
Highland cows often communicate through predictable behaviours, especially in response to environmental cues. They are creatures of habit. Over time, they will associate specific times of day or sounds with events like feeding, milking, or movement between fields.
Examples include:
- Standing at the same gate at feeding time
- Walking calmly to shelter during rain if previously taught
- Waiting in line for brushes or routine checks
- Moving toward a known vehicle associated with care or food
Mother-Calf Communication
The bond between Highland cow mothers and their calves is strong and enduring. From the moment of birth, communication begins through scent, low vocal sounds, and physical contact. The cow licks her calf clean, imprinting scent and stimulating circulation, and calls softly to encourage nursing and bonding.
Calves respond quickly, learning to follow their mother’s movements, respond to her voice, and stay within safe proximity. In larger pastures, mother cows will call repeatedly until they locate their calves, who often hide in tall grass or brush. If separated, both mother and calf become visibly distressed until reunited.
These bonds last beyond weaning. Mature offspring often continue to rest near or follow their mothers in larger herd movements. Herds that remain together over generations may retain multi-generational social structures based on these maternal lines.
Do Highland Cows Form Friendships?
Yes. Highland cows form long-term social bonds that go beyond family connections. These friendships are seen in resting positions, grazing side by side, grooming, and choosing to remain close throughout the day. Some bonded pairs may remain together for years, forming strong alliances that help reduce stress and support emotional wellbeing.
Herds often have a loose social hierarchy, and even cows of different ranks can form attachments. Friendship and trust are more important than dominance in many Highland herds.
Do Highland Cows Communicate With Humans?
Highland cows learn to recognise individual people by voice, appearance, scent, and movement. With repeated positive contact, they often approach humans with curiosity or patience. Handlers who are calm and predictable will build trust and open communication.
Signs of Communication With Humans:
- Standing still for haltering or grooming
- Approaching when called or gestured to
- Recognising feeding vehicles or tools
- Stepping into position at known routines like brushing or weighing
Some cows appear to “ask” for attention by moving toward a person or turning their head for a scratch. Others may gently nudge or hover nearby when comfortable. These behaviours represent learned responses and emotional trust.
Do Highland Cows Show Emotion?
Yes. Highland cows are capable of expressing emotions such as calmness, curiosity, frustration, grief, and even happiness. Their emotional responses are reflected in changes in behaviour, posture, and interactions with the herd or humans.
Emotional Signs to Watch For:
- Contentment: Chewing cud while lying down, eyes half closed
- Grief: Pacing or calling after a lost calf or companion
- Excitement: Faster movement when anticipating food or company
- Fear: Avoidance, tail held stiff, eyes wide
Many Highland cow owners report observing behaviours that suggest empathy, preference, and even emotional memory. While cows don’t show emotion in the same way humans do, their reactions are consistent and meaningful.
Do Highland Cows Grieve?
Grieving behaviours have been observed in many cattle breeds, and Highland cows are no exception. When a calf is removed or a long-time herd companion dies, cows may show visible signs of loss. These may include:
- Withdrawing from group activity
- Reduced appetite or slower movement
- Calling out repeatedly or searching
- Lying in a spot previously shared with the lost animal
These behaviours often resolve with time, but they indicate a depth of feeling that supports the idea that cows, including Highlands, experience grief. Providing social support and routine during these times can help affected cows adjust more easily.
Can Highland Cows Be Trained?
Yes. While not traditionally trained like dogs or horses, Highland cows respond well to routines, voice commands, and calm repetition. They can be taught to:
- Come to a name or whistle
- Enter a trailer or pen calmly
- Stand still for grooming or veterinary care
- Follow handlers during pasture rotation
Training works best when started early and reinforced consistently. Positive reinforcement — such as food rewards or gentle brushing — encourages cooperation. Aggression or harsh treatment, on the other hand, breaks trust and hinders learning.
Do Highland Cows Interact With Other Animals?
Highland cows can share pastures with sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses without issue. They are generally tolerant and non-aggressive. Early exposure helps build confidence around other species, especially on hobby farms or in conservation grazing projects.
While they don’t form cross-species friendships in the way some pets do, they learn to navigate shared space peacefully and may even use the presence of other animals to gauge environmental cues such as danger or feeding time.
Conclusion
Highland cows are more than beautiful, iconic animals — they are emotionally expressive, socially bonded, and quietly intelligent. Their communication methods include vocalisation, scent, posture, and behaviour patterns, all of which contribute to a rich inner world that’s often underestimated.
By understanding how Highland cows communicate and think, you can care for them more effectively, deepen your connection, and appreciate their remarkable nature. Whether you’re a farmer, land manager, or simply a fan of these gentle giants, there is always more to learn by watching, listening, and respecting what Highland cows are saying in their own quiet ways.
Want to go further? Read Do Highland Cows Like Being Brushed? or explore How Highland Cows Stay Warm in Winter.