If you raised a horse with a herd of cows, would it think it was a cow? What about the other way around?

Question

If you raised a horse with a herd of cows, would it think it was a cow? What about the other way around?

Answer 1

It would most likely think it was a cow if it was kept with cattle from a very young age, especially if there weren't any horses around.

I grew up in the country, and raised many different types of animals. I raised dozens of lambs over the years, and a lot of them thought they were dogs, since we had a lot of dogs as well. In one sense, the sheep also believed they were people, since I was feeding them, but because they were also around the dogs all the time, they did the things that the dogs did. They'd jump up on you the way dogs do, and also chase cars. I think the sheep just thought they were part of the whole human/dog family that they grew up in.

Another example are birds. If you get a bird that's hand-raised, especially if it's imprinted on humans, meaning a human was the first living thing it saw, they also believe they are humans and it can sometimes be impossible to get them to mix with other birds.

Answer 2

actually, at birth animals (including us) are rather dumb. most animals have critical learning periods where if socialization or behaviors aren't taught it's most likely the adult animal will have future behavioral problems.

horses and cows are rather expensive, and i'm sure ranchers take great care to imprint these animals to avoid undesired behaviors.

but i'm just pulling this out of my ****.

Answer 3

Cows know they are cows.  Horses know they are horses.  They are smarter than people in that they are able to exist side by side peacefully and without prejudice.