Save a farm, cuddle a cow
Life can be stressful. But if meditation and exercise aren't cutting it for you, here's a soft and snuggly alternative that might: cow cuddling.
The popular wellness experience is being offered by a growing number of dairy farms around the US, Europe, and elsewhere.
An udderly adorable business
Cow cuddling is a form of agritourism — the trendiest since equine therapy and goat yoga — that's touted for its calming and therapeutic benefits, thanks to cows' warm bodies and slow resting heartbeats, which can promote oxytocin release.
Farmers might train the bovines to sit and nuzzle up to people, who can brush, pet, feed, and cuddle them during timed sessions, which can cost anywhere between ~$20 to well over $100.
Popular cuddlers include fluffy varieties like Highland cows, who've become social media stars in recent years because, well, just look at them.
Why it matters
Cow cuddling isn't new. The wellness trend emerged in the Netherlands in the 2000s, and took off globally during the pandemic when people were starved of connection.
But the practice has been a boon to dairy farmers in recent months, providing a much-needed revenue stream as dairy prices continue to drop, per The Washington Post.
- Dairy prices have declined since July, largely due to a global oversupply of milk.
- Plus, agricultural economist Christopher Wolf told the Post, people are eating out less, meaning less demand from restaurants, where people tend to consume more dairy products.
- Meanwhile, tariffs have made fertilizer and other farming equipment more expensive.
For smaller, family-owned farms, the additional income can make a big difference.
Luckily, demand is still moo-ving along
Thanks to the trend's growing popularity, many cow cuddling experiences are now booking out months in advance.
Hickory Hearth Highlands in Pennsylvania, which offers $55 hourlong sessions through Airbnb Experiences, told Axios bookings have jumped from 500 in 2022 to 2.5k+ in 2024, drawing many out-of-state and international visitors.
Some have been so successful that farmers like Fiona Wilson, whose UK dairy farm nearly closed in 2022, have swapped milk production for cuddling entirely; she now charges $150 for four-hour snuggle sessions with her 13 dedicated cows.
BTW: If nuzzling up to a "giant fluffy hot water bottle" doesn't entice you as much as human connection, you could always try cuddling a stranger instead.
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