Life is tough, and we could all do with a hug, so here’s a public service announcement: there are 30 friendly cows in Braidwood waiting for a cuddle.

These aren’t ordinary cows, but rather miniature cows (about 4 feet tall) bred especially for cow-cuddling (Animal Assisted Therapy – AAT) at Gold Creek White Galloway farm, just three minutes from Braidwood.   

Owners Suzanne Baker and her partner Pamela Robinson have been breeding AAT since 2005 and getting them accustomed to us needy humans.

“AAT cattle need to be born docile,” Suzanne explained. “This requires both the bull and the cow to pass on their docile nature to the calf. Then the cow needs to trust us to handle and interact with their very young calves. This is asking a lot of a prey animal. It is their natural instinct to be very protective of their calves around humans.”

Suzanne spends plenty of time with the pure-bred cattle, but the cattle also have to be exposed to lots of different people because “everyone looks, moves, smells, sounds and tastes different”.

“Some people are loud, excited, agitated, and unpredictable,” Suzanne said. “Others are quiet, withdrawn, and timid. The cattle need to be okay with all of this.”

Once the cattle are AAT qualified, they are usually sent to rural properties as therapy animals for people working on farms.

“It started with a psychologist in western Queensland asking us for therapy cattle to use with clients with a rural background and a reluctance to talk to a therapist of any kind,” Suzanne said.

“Being told to check out some woman’s unusual cattle was much less confronting for men, in particular, those struggling with mental health. Maintaining the resilience required to spend their working lives on the land sometimes needs a little support.”

One of Suzanne’s clients is blind, others are in wheelchairs, and some are retired soldiers, medical, disaster or emergency frontline workers, where the incidence of PTSD, anxiety, burnout and depression is high.

In suburban Canberra, we’re accustomed to seeing therapy dogs and even a therapy cat but in rural Australia, therapy pets aren’t common (nor are these ancient Scottish breeds for that matter).

“Access to therapy and the usual array of therapists and therapy animals is usually not available to [rural areas], or just ‘not for them,” Suzanne said. “Our cattle are ‘inconspicuous little helpers’.”

“Cattle being such large animals sometimes allow people to develop a sense of achievement that a smaller animal would not give. To build a trust with such a big animal is a big and beautiful thing.”

Only female calves are trained for AAT. Some males are suitable; however, most bulls are primarily used for breeding. About five out of every ten calves born are calm enough for therapy work, and they undergo an intense screening process. Older cows retire as farm pets.

Training takes anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on the personalities of each cow and Suzanne has received requests from as far as Adelaide and Perth.

So, what are the health benefits of having an 800kg bovine bestie? They’re uncomplicated (and adorable).

“For a human, being able to come into a paddock, interact with, and share a relaxing bond with such a large, gentle animal is a wonderful thing,” Suzanne said. “It is the calm, gentle nature of the cows themselves. Also, cows have a slower heart rate than humans, which is calming to be around.”

During Covid lockdowns, the cows proved to be an essential service to many locals. When people visited Gold Creek farm, Suzanne said the cows intuitively knew who needs what.

“We can see their little cow brains quietly ticking over,” Suzanne said. “Does this human just want to talk to me? Do I need to convince them to stroke me or brush me? Or should I just stand here and ruminate for a while and let the human work it out for themselves?”

So, if you’re in need of a hug, come and visit the new spring calves – Harriet, Hugo and Rory (their mothers are Haddie, Jaffa and Rosslyn) – the mature female herd will know what to do.

If you’re suburban backyard is too small or your dog objects to sharing a yard with a heifer, you can adopt a cow (a percentage of profits goes to farm animal sanctuaries). Adoptions include an invitation to visit your adopted cow – or the whole herd – for cow-cuddling.

While Suzanne said it was a joy to breed such beautiful creatures, it was also difficult to part with them.

“Yes, it is always a wrench when they leave. I wave and smile as they head off but by the time I am closing the gate after them, I am tearing up, crying or outright sobbing. It is made less difficult because I know they are going to the right people in the best places.”

Gold Creek Miniature Cattle is on Facebook or online miniaturegalloway.com.au