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Cow hugging, known as "koe knuffelen" in Dutch, has emerged as a new wellness trend.

Details

• The practice entails hugging a cow and sharing a mutual moment of relaxation with the animal as a way of offering solace to the soul, one encouraged by the animal’s slower heartbeat and higher body temperature.
• While cow hugs may result in lots of likes on Instagram making the human feel great, it does not address that animal’s management and well-being.

Why COW?

• The cow’s warmer body temperature, slower heartbeat and mammoth size can make hugging them an incredibly soothing experience, and giving the animal a backrub, reclining against them or even getting licked is all part of the therapeutic encounter.
• Cow cuddling is believed to promote positivity and reduce stress by boosting oxytocin in humans, the hormone released in social bonding.
• The calming effects of curling up with a pet or emotional support animal, it seems, are accentuated when cuddling with larger mammals.
• The cuddling experience can even be pleasurable for the cattle themselves.

Source: The Hindu