Happy cows make a soft humming sound

Can cows talk? Professor of Language Culture Leonie Cornips sees far-reaching forms of verbal and non-verbal communication between cows themselves and the animals and their keepers. 'Dairy cows have to appeal to the farmer,' she says. 'That involves a whole range of sounds and behaviors.'

Leonie Cornips pays attention to cows' looking and smelling behavior and body language. She examines the sounds the animals produce and tries to contextualize them with other cows and people. She can be found in the barn for several hours every month.

Read more (in Dutch) in Nieuwe Oogst

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