The Private Life of Cows

The Private Life of Cows

2010, Nature  -   12 Comments
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Ratings: 7.99/10 from 83 users.

If you've ever wondered what cows are really thinking, then The Private Life of Cows is the film for you.

Humans have co-existed with cows for so long that most of us take them for granted, even though our demand for the meat and dairy products they produce continues to grow. The majority of us probably believe that all cows are the same, and that they're one of the least intelligent species on the planet. The filmmakers seek to challenge these preconceptions by conducting a series of intriguing behavioral tests.

The first test centers on intelligence. Inspired by the Pavlovian dog experiments of the early 1900s, the filmmakers create a device containing a large bell and a food dispenser. Can the cows become conditioned to ring the bell in order to receive their reward? If they succeed in making this connection, it would prove that the species possesses some level of intellect.

Common sense dictates that individual distinctions must exist within a worldwide population of 1.5 billion cows. In one of the film's most entertaining segments, we're introduced to a female cattle breeder in Britain who spends each day in the company of over a hundred cows. She claims that each of them have their own distinct personalities. Some are gentle and approachable. Others are aggressive and solitary.

Additional interviews and experiments expand our understanding of this enigmatic species. We gain a deeper appreciation for their sense of self-awareness, the process by which they interpret commands and respond to fear, and how wild cattle behave differently than the domesticated variety. All of these concepts come together to create a complex psychological portrait. This is particularly essential for the figures who work to breed and herd them.

We're also given a brief history of the species, an outline of the genetic modifications they've undergone throughout the years, and a review of their most unique physical characteristics. For instance, we learn that cows possess an astonishing field of vision which gives them the ability to detect potential predators from any direction.

The Private Life of Cows is filled with a wealth of surprising tidbits, and it's presented in an irresistibly playful tone.

Directed by: Jude Ho

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Pickle
Pickle
6 years ago

I advise y'all to watch the youtube channel "Think like a horse" by Rick Gore
It will teach you a lot about the behavior of cattle animals....

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

'My Mission is to see just how intelligent cows are'.
Cows have been domesticated and become entirely dependent on human for food, shelter et cetera. Checking how intelligent they are just shows how unintelligent the human is.
This documentary has nothing to do with their private lives. As a introduction to basic cow farming for beef it's mildly interesting .

wassay
wassay
7 years ago

cows are very good pets they are very inteeligent

dave
dave
7 years ago

"Cows are successful and wild animals have failed" !? Such annoying spin and twisting of reality from the BBC - again. MAN has successfully farmed cows and MAN has failed to farm other animals. Cows would otherwise graze with successful wildebeest, deer , etc. don't cha think ?.

Generic smith
Generic smith
7 years ago

well presented documenentary, would be quite enlightening for those from a non rural/farming background.

GunnarInLA
GunnarInLA
7 years ago

...watched it and...although it is a well made documentary, it irked me in several ways, but...I don't want to needlessly hurt feelings, so...
...but I'll say this – if you expect to learn about "cows private lives"...you wont...

Michele
Michele
7 years ago

Some parts of the cow can be very tasty, others not so much.

terence galland
terence galland
7 years ago

Mans real best friends wonderful creatures the Tinkerbells!