# Cow-Assisted Interventions in Social Farming: First Results of a Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how working with cows can improve well-being in people facing personal challenges, showing benefits like increased self-confidence and better social interactions.

## Contribution

This is the first Italian pilot study to investigate cow-assisted interventions, proposing a new therapeutic protocol and behavioral monitoring tools.

## Key findings

- Participants showed improved self-esteem, emotional expression, and social interaction.
- People with eating disorders became more open to dairy consumption after the intervention.
- Animal-assisted activities were found to be safe and feasible with stable cow welfare.

## Abstract

Cows are usually seen only as farm animals, yet they can also play a role in supporting people’s well-being. This study tested for the first time in Italy whether working with cows could help people facing personal difficulties. On a farm in Umbria, four cows took part in Animal-Assisted Interventions with three different groups of participants: teenagers living away from their families, young adults with mental health challenges, and people with eating disorders. Participants spent time feeding, brushing, leading, and observing the cows. These activities boosted self-confidence, encouraged emotional expression, and improved social interactions among participants. For those with eating disorders, the experience also reduced negative feelings toward dairy products. The cows remained calm and comfortable throughout, showing that the activities did not harm their welfare. The cost analysis highlighted the relative affordability of cow-assisted activities, with the main costs coming from the staff needed to organize and guide the assisted activities. Our findings suggest that cows can contribute to innovative forms of care and education, opening new opportunities for social farms to support people with disabilities.

Social farming combines agricultural, social, and healthcare functions, and Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are increasingly being applied within this framework. Despite their potential, cattle are excluded from Italian guidelines and rarely studied. This pilot study explored the feasibility, effects, and economic sustainability of cow-assisted interventions within social farming in Umbria, Italy. It represents an original and innovative contribution, drawing attention to the therapeutic potential of the human–cow relationship. The study presents an experimental cow therapy protocol and proposes behavioral monitoring tools designed both for people with different disabilities and for the animals involved. Four Red Pied Valdostana cows were involved in structured sessions with three groups: adolescents removed from families, young adults with mental health disorders, and individuals with eating disorders. Activities included observation, feeding, grooming, problem solving, and leading. Human outcomes were assessed regarding emotional, relational, and behavioral dimensions, and animal welfare was continuously monitored. A cost analysis was also conducted for Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA), Animal-Assisted Education (AAE), and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). Participants reported improved self-esteem, emotional expression, and social interaction; the eating disorder group showed greater openness toward dairy consumption. Animal welfare remained stable with high tolerance to handling. Costs were driven mainly by professional staff rather than animal care, with average hourly costs of €74.51 (AAA), €144.99 (AAE), and €172.41 (AAT). The comparative analysis demonstrates a clear trade-off: as the intervention shifts from recreational (AAA) to educational (AAE) and finally to therapeutic (AAT), the financial investment increases in parallel with the level of professionalization, personalization, and expected clinical outcomes. Cow-assisted interventions proved to be safe, feasible, and beneficial, supporting their potential inclusion in Italian guidelines on AAIs.