Dream Symbols

Cows and Cattle Dream Meaning

cow dream meaning
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We often associate cows and herds of cattle with farming and ranching. These animals have a number of different uses and meanings across different cultures in the globe.

Whether you are dreaming about cows, or wondering what the symbolism of a cow may be, there are a lot of different possible meanings. Today we’ll look at the different dream symbol meanings, as well as what a cow can signify as a spirit animal or power animal.

What Do Cows and Cattle Symbolize?

Cows are often seen as a source which provide us with food to eat and milk to drink. For this reason, cows are very closely connected to how we feel about meeting our needs in the physical world.

Abundance and Prosperity

Many times, we associate cows with abundance and prosperity. In fact, during the times of the Great Depression, your family was considered to be  rich if you owned a cow, because it could provide your family with a steady supply of milk.

We often also hear the common phrase “cash cow” in business – which means that something is a steady and reliable source of income or profit. This saying comes because once you make the initial investment, the business owner will always have a steady supply to milk.

Fertility and Mothering

A cow will often appear as a power animal or spirit animal for women who are struggling with fertility or are in need of support in their life fulfilling the roles of a mother.

Mother cows and calves have a special bond, and so to dream of a cow or to have a cow coming as a symbol or spirit animal into your life could mean to embrace the maternal and nurturing aspects of yourself.

Spiritual Connection to Creation

Mother cows and their young calves reminds us that we are all connected to the divine source energy of creation. Cows are a reminder to practice kindness and caring towards all living things.

While we may not immediately think of creativity and creation with cows, these animals are often here to remind us that we are all great creators in our lives. A cow can appear to give you some wisdom and support in creating the physical life you wish to live.

dream meaning cows

Common Ways Cows and Cattle Appear in Dreams and What it Means to Dream About a Cow:

There are many common dreams about cows, and so if you are wondering what it might mean if you have a cow dream, these different scenarios and themes may be helpful for you to understand your dream better.

What Is the Overall Mood and Tone of the Dream?

If you dream of happy cows, this certainly means something very different than dreaming of sickly or sad looking cows.

Dreaming of healthy and fat cattle grazing in a green pasture often means you are feeling content and peaceful about a situation in your life. You may feel as if your finances are well managed and that things in your life are going smoothly.

If the cow or cattle look poorly fed, neglected or unhealthy, it is likely you feel as if you are not seeing the results from hard work and effort. You may not feel content with your current situation. You may feel as if your finances are suffering or are neglected.

A stampede of cattle could mean that you are feeling out of control. You may feel unable to get a grip on your finances if this stampede in the dream is related in some way to profits or food. You may be feeling incapable of being able to provide for yourself or your family.

In some cases, a stampede in a dream could also mean that a goal you are working towards will require a lot of effort and energy in order to see the results you wish to achieve.

Dreaming of Milking Cows

Milking a cow in a dream can mean that you are hoping to see success from your investments or work. This means you may feel confident about choices you have made, that they will yield the results you wish to achieve.

Dreaming of a cow with young calves can often signify a desire to connect with your feminine and maternal side. You may feel as if you are in need of some care and nurturing, or there is something or someone in your life that needs nurtured.

Dreaming of Baby Cows & Calves

If you dream of happy calves with their mothers, this could mean that you are looking for ways to increase your abundance in life, or it could mean that you are trying to conceive or thinking about having children in your own life.

If you are dreaming of cows being separated from their calves, it could mean that you are feeling disconnected from someone you care about or someone who has cared for you in the past. Baby cows will often cry when separated from their mothers.

This could also denote that you are feeling abandoned or neglected by someone who is not being loyal to you.

Dreaming of Scary Cows, Bulls or Dark Cattle

If you dream of a dark or vicious looking cow or bull, this could mean that you are fearful of a person you deal with in business, or that you may have an negative person in your life who is threatening your peace and happiness.

An angry cow is quite a powerful force, so if you dream of a mad cow or bull charging at you, this could mean that you feel as if you are being attacked by something or someone in your waking life.

You may also have some repressed feelings about your current financial situation. Does it seem hopeless? Does your current financial situation threaten your happiness or health?

Often times, these dreams are stemming from not feeling like you are able to provide a solution for your problems.


Dream Symbols Related to Cows, Bulls & Cattle

If you had a dream about a cow, you may wish to look up the meaning of the other items in the dream. Here are some related symbols that may give you additional insight into what the dream might mean.

Common Events & Places in Dreams About Cows

Storm Dream Meaning – Cows often handle storms with grace and calmness. Learn what storms may symbolize in a dream.

Garden Dream Meaning – Did the cow appear in the garden in a dream?

Gate Dream Meaning – Gates can often have interesting meanings in dreams, and could have some significance about opportunities and protection in your life.

Arena Dream Meaning – If you dream of a bull fight or seeing a cow or bull in an arena, the meaning of an arena as a dream symbol can provide a lot more insight for you.

Eating Food Dreams: If you dreamt of eating beef or milk from a cow, you may wish to look into the meaning of foods in dreams.

Other Farm Animals

Sometimes cows can appear in our dreams on a farm, along with other farm animals. Here’s some common animals that may appear along with cows.

Dream About Something Else? Check out our free online dream dictionary to look up dream symbols and meanings for thousands of different dreams.


Did you have a dream about a cow? What do you think it means? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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13 Comments

  1. I dreamed that I was driving at night going home when I seen a brown cow that had got loose running in front of the car and thinking to myself I need to figure out what house owned the cow so I can let them know it was loose.

  2. I dreamt i saw a mother cow faint and I struggled to get the cure I almost died just finding that cure as everybody rejected to help me..but in the end I finally did but was too exhausted

  3. I dreamed I was given two fat cows as a gift and green clothes from passers by in the dream the people looked like in the days of Pharaoh and Joseph in the old testament
    they asked if they could stay by me and then handed me green clothes and when i went into the house these beautiful green curtains where hang up in my house

  4. I saw a male cow is fighting with someone for protecting pregnant female cow. I am also in the dream. I am walking, seeing passing it through that fight. But still that cow continue to fight with that person only and as I am moving forward I standing watching it

  5. I had a dream about a cow trying to eat a sheep. There were other animals in the yard that looks weird. there was a bird running across the yard with the head of a cat. what does this mean?

  6. I dreamed about a calf kind of skinny but acted like a dog sitting in my
    Lap like a dog. Was trying to find the owner and finally found someone that knew the owner.

    1. I dreamed a cow is chasing me. And It was going to bite me but I pat him. In the end, I sold the cow in exchange of gold.

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