What Is The Meaning Behind The Moo?

Whenever I'm out reporting in the field, I can tell many ranchers have a powerful connection with their cattle — it seems they can almost understand them. But researchers today are digging deeper to figure out exactly what cows are saying — and how they communicate through their moos. I drove out to the research farm at the University of Missouri to ask cattle geneticist Jared Decker to share his expert insights. "I can't translate cow moos into English," he says. "But there are certain times when you can tell when the cattle are communicating with one another." In his experience, these are some meanings of the moo: They are trying to find their friends. When cows change environments, like moving from one farm to another, they will moo to try to connect with their friends as they figure out their new surroundings. Decker said it's like going to the school cafeteria after you've just left a classroom. When you enter the cafeteria, you look for your friends. Cows do the same thing when