Farmer Luz Klotz adjusted the brightly striped hair bow on Reba, a 1,600-pound heifer, as she lounged on the ground under twinkling fairy lights. Teenager Joey Pachl, eager to impress his girlfriend for prom, had splurged $75 on an hour-long cow cuddling session at the farm.
Pachl successfully charmed his animal-loving girlfriend, Emma. For Luz and her husband, Dan Klotz, such visits were crucial for covering feed costs and sustaining their small farm. Paying for the privilege to snuggle up with half-ton heifers had become a popular trend in the United States, fueled by social media. Cuddling dairy or beef cattle was seen as therapeutic or simply a novel adventure for city dwellers seeking a taste of rural life.
However, this trend faced a new risk as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy herds across nine states. The outbreak, potentially more widespread than reported, raised concerns given the discovery of H5N1 particles in about 20% of milk samples nationwide. While the risk of human infection was deemed low, state and federal officials advised cattle and dairy farmers to minimize outside visitors as a precaution.
In Michigan, where a dairy herd tested positive, the state's agriculture department imposed emergency measures, including sanitation protocols and access restrictions to dairy and commercial poultry farms starting May 8. While not explicitly banning cow cuddling, Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director, Tim Boring, cautioned against it, stating, "From a human and animal health standpoint, now is not a good time to cuddle cows. This is to protect the cows and people."
Such restrictions could spell economic trouble for small family farms reliant on agritourism like cow cuddling. Sessions at farms like De Vor Dairy Farm and Creamery in Michigan were booked weeks in advance, with proceeds helping cover insurance costs.
Henk De Vor, a farmer at De Vor Dairy Farm, expressed confidence in their safety measures despite the outbreak. Similarly, Luz and Dan Klotz of Luz Farms in Illinois had protective measures in place, ensuring visitor safety and farm sustainability. For them, an hour of cow cuddling translated to enough funds to feed their small herd for a week.
Beyond cow cuddling, various agritourism activities, including yoga with baby goats and sunflower field visits, have surged in popularity. In 2022, over 28,600 U.S. farms offered such recreational services, generating $1.26 billion in income, a 32% increase from five years prior, according to USDA data. This trend was especially crucial as U.S. farm incomes faced a significant decline, particularly impacting small farms.
Amidst the challenges posed by bird flu, the practice of cow cuddling continued, with hosts ensuring safety measures for visitors and animals alike. Joey's mom, Linda Pachl, initially discovered Luz Farms' cow snuggle sessions on Facebook and suggested the idea to her son. Joey's creative promposal with a banner on a calf captured the essence of the farm experience, culminating in a memorable moment for him and Emma.
(Additional reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Diane Craft)