The Rutland farm offering cow cuddles to help with stress
People have been spending hours at a time with the cows to help them relax
Last updated 11th May 2022
With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on some of us, one farm in Rutland is offering people a rather bizarre but effective means to de-stress.
Ahimsa Farm is a 100% slaughter-free, eco-dairy farm which people have been visiting for the popular sensation of cow-cuddling.
It's been known to help people relax, clear their minds and even help some find respite from larger emotional difficulties.
Ian Ashfield, who looks after the cows at Ahimsa, said:
'One young lady came with her mum, she'd had some traumatic thing she hadn't really spoken to anyone for quite a long time, and she'd spend some time with the cows and she was just talking all the time. Her mum afterwards said: "I just can't believe it, she hasn't been like this for years. An hour or so with your cows, she's gone back to who she used to be"'
The science and ethos
Besides from the cute and cuddly factor, there is actually some science behind why cow-cuddling might help reduce stress.
Apparently, cows have a naturally lower heartrate and higher body temperature than humans which helps us to relax when being so close to them.
The uniqueness to Ahimsa Farm doesn't stop at its cow-cuddling capabilities, there's actually a wider meaning behind the name, and efforts are made to make sure no more harm is made to the earth than to the animals.
'Ahimsa is an ancient sand-script word. It can be interpreted in slightly different ways but generally it means cruelty free or without cruelty', said Ian.
'In terms of our dealings with the cows we're obviously a slaughter free micro dairy, so it can be used specifically in terms of how we deal with the cows. Or it can be more general in terms of how we deal with the soil, how we grow our vegetables, how we deal with each other. It's more of an ethos than just a word.'