28 Cow Photos That Are Too Adorable for Words

1 | This big cow smooch.

As it turns out, this adorable interaction isn't uncommon between cattle. According to Judith Madey of The Nature Institute, older cows actually communicate by licking each other. How cute!

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2 | This cow getting up close and personal.

Cows are not afraid to get all up in your personal space, as evidenced by this farm friend, who was ready for her closeup.

3 | This cow and its little tongue.

Cow tongues aren't just cute, they're actually also very useful! Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it's what cows use to grab leaves for sustenance.

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4 | This smiling friend resting in the field.

This friendly face chilling in the grass is doing just what a cow loves to do most: resting! According to the Farm Animal Welfare Education Centre, a dairy cow's main priority is lying down—so much so that they spend as much as half the day doing so.

5 | This big-eared farm friend.

Pay close attention to this cow's floppy ears. Not only are they extremely adorable, but, per a study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, you can actually tell what a cow is feeling by the positioning of their ears. When calm and relaxed, cows' ears tend to be in a backward and/or hanging position, as opposed to in an upright position.

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6 | This cow reaching for a nose scratch.

Cows love a bit of human affection. However, if you're not willing to give it, these beasts won't soon forget. As one study published in the Animal Behavior and Cognition journal notes, "calves as well as adult cows show learned fear responses to humans who have previously handled them in a rough manner."

7 | This buddy trying to bypass the fence just to say hello.

All those hours spent on the pasture can get a little lonely—even for a cow. That's why this cow is on the hunt for pets. Who could ignore this face?

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8 | This cow and its big tongue.

This cow cutie is showing us just how mighty (and big!) a cow's tongue can be. But why are their tongues so long? Well, since cows have fewer teeth than other animals plus no upper teeth, their tongues need to be long enough to grasp the grass they eat and pull it out of the ground.

9 | This cow receiving a friendly hug.

Cow cuddling looks to be the next big trend—but unless you own a farm, you might have to pay a pretty penny just to get your hands on one of these benign beasts. In upstate New York, for instance, visitors are shelling out as much as $75 for an hour-long cow cuddling session, during which they can cuddle, brush, and play with cows.

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10 | This cow receiving not one, but two head rubs!

This cow friend sure looks peaceful receiving not one, but two friendly head rubs. In a study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Austrian researchers found that gentle interactions like this one can greatly improve the relationship between humans and cows.

11 | This cow being fed from a bottle.

Calves receive most of their nutrition from milk for the first two weeks of their lives. During this time they are typically fed twice daily either by a nipple bottle or via open bucket. The bottle works best, however, because it closely resembles a mother's udder.

12 | This cow posse.

According to a University of Northampton study, cows actually do have best friends! What's more, when cows are surrounded by their best friends, their heart rates slow down significantly, and they experience less stress than when paired with a stranger.

13 | This cow racing alongside its canine companion.

The friendships cows form extend to other animals, too. Take Moonpie the minicow, for example. She's currently living at Rocky Ridge Refuge in northern Arkansas with her best friends who just so happen to be two dozen rescue dogs!

14 | This mother and her baby calf.

There's no bond stronger than the one between a mother and her child—and that goes for cows as well as humans. Per one study in the Applied Animal Behaviour Sciencejournal, calves reared alongside their mothers tend to be more sociable and socially competent in later years, as well as less susceptible to stress.

15 | This cow's pig friendship.

Cows and pigs often share pastures, giving them the perfect opportunity to form friendships. However, some creatures will even go great lengths just to see their BFFs. At one farm in England, for instance, a miniature pig named Mr. Sparkles even sneaks over to hang out with his cow pal, Dainty. There's no beef between these farm friends!

16 | This cow checking out the camera.

Don't think you can hide from a cow if you're looking to capture a sneaky shot. According to NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, cows have almost 360-degree vision, so they can see practically everything.

17 | This cow and its little friend.

This cow probably loves being in a field of flowers even more than its human friend does. Why? According to the book Cow Talk, cows have an incredible sense of smell—so good, in fact, that they can detect smells from kilometers away. Yes, cows definitely know how to stop and smell the roses.

18 | This cow with luscious locks.

This buddy's bangs are quite long—and they serve a specific purpose! Highland cows from Scotland have wooly and wavy coats that grow extremely long in order give the cows the ability to combat the cold, wet climate where they live.

19 | This cow and his goat friend.

Dogs and pigs and goats, oh my! Cows are open to forming relationships with all sorts of other farm animals, and goats are no exception. One orphaned cow in Little Rock, California, for example, was given a goat companion by the Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue, and the duo is now inseparable.

20 | This adorable mom and baby.

This baby calf and its mother may look pet-able, but it's best to admire pairs like this from afar. Cow mothers are extremely protective of their young, which is one of the reasons why the animals get such a bad rap for being aggressive.

21 | These cows giving each other nose kisses.

These cows are showing love by booping snoots! Did you know that you can measure a cow's emotional state through the temperature of its nose? A study published in the Physiology & Behavior journal revealed that a drop in nasal temperature for cows was associated with a more positive emotional state of being.

22 | This cow and its heart-shaped head.

This calf doesn't wear its heart on its sleeve, but rather on its head! And, according to the American Dairy Association, no two Holstein cows have the same spots, so this heart-shaped beauty is one of a kind.

23 | These cows and their canine companion.

These cow companions are showing the utmost love to their bulldog buddy! A cow's lick is a sign of affection, and it's clear this dog is getting lots of slobbery kisses.

24 | This cow and his farmer friend.

This affectionate sweetheart is showing some love to one of its human friends. This is obviously a person she trusts.

25 | This crew of cow pals.

Cows have rich social lives and value their friendships. According to Pet MD, "If cows are moved from one barn to another frequently, this social stress can start to affect their well-being." Think about a child trying to fit in at a new school!

26 | This mom watching her baby learn to walk.

This calf may seem a little unsteady, but most newborn cows learn to stand within half an hour of being born.

27 | This cow chowing down on some hay.

You think you get snack-y? Cows will eat up to 24 pounds of hay per day, or about two percent of their body weight.

28 | This cow getting a really good hug.

A cow may not be able to fully return your hug, but they'll certainly appreciate it. And so will you!