Cows have best friends and feel much calmer when they are hanging out together.

In 2011, a researcher named Krista McLennan at Northampton University studied how cows react to their social circles. She measured their heart rates and found that cows were much more relaxed when paired with a 'best friend' compared to a random stranger. Their heart rates actually dropped by 7 to 10 beats per minute when they were with their favorite buddy.Cows are surprisingly smart and can recognize more than 50 different members of their herd. They use licking and grooming to show affection and keep their friendships strong. When they are separated from their favorite partner, their bodies produce more cortisol, which is a hormone linked to stress.A study from 2005 published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science showed that social contact is vital for young cows. Calves that grew up with friends were better at learning new things and handled change much better than lonely calves. This shows that having a social life is a key part of how cows grow up.Farmers have noticed that keeping these bonded pairs together leads to healthier and happier animals. Happy cows even produce more milk than stressed ones. Because of these discoveries, many farms now try to make sure cows stay with their friends to keep the whole herd peaceful.