One of the best parts about having a cow is giving him/her love and care. One of the best ways to show your affection for a cow is to give them a treat. While cow’s have very strong digestive systems (they consume around 30 pounds of food a day), there are still certain things you should and should not give a cow for a treat. Additionally, another thing you need to take into consideration is that cow’s do not have a top row of teeth.

This means that you should not give your cow anything that is extremely hard or crunchy, as this can cause damage to a cow’s tongue, and also be hard to digest if it is not properly broken down before reaching the stomach. Also, cows are herbivores meaning that they only eat plants. Therefore, any form of meat is not a good treat for your cow. 

In today’s article, we are going to review some of the best things you can give a cow for a treat, as well as some things you should never feed your cow. 

What can you give a cow for a treat?

Here is our list of things you can give a cow for a treat:

Fruits

Fruits are a great option to give a cow as a treat. Cow’s tend to enjoy sweeter things, and there are many types of fruits that cater to their sweet tooth. Some of the best fruit treats for cows include apple slices, bananas, sweet corn, and watermelon rinds. 

Vegetables

There are also many types of vegetables that are great snacks for your cow. Some of the best vegetables you can feed your cow are potatoes, cabbage leaves, carrots, cauliflower, and corn. Some cows will even eat pumpkins. We recommend cutting up vegetables into slices before feeding to your cow so that it is easier for it to chew and digest.

Both fruits and vegetables can be used as occasional food for dairy cows.

Commercial Treats

There are also a bunch of treats that you can buy online for your cow. There are a wide range of flavors including apple, salt cubes, and banana. 

You can learn more in my guide on the best treats for cows.

What food should you not feed your cow?

There are some types of food that you should never give your cow as a treat. The number one thing you should never feed your cow is meat. This is because they don’t have the proper organs to digest meat. Additionally, we recommend that you do not feed tomatoes to your cow.