BRITAIN: Cows moo with a regional accent, according to their farmers.
Dairy farmers in Somerset, England, noticed a local twang to the sounds made by their animals, and experts have now confirmed that different herds can make different sounds.
John Wells, professor of phonetics at the University of London, said: "This phenomenon is well attested in birds. You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country.
"This could also be true of cows. In small populations such as herds you would encounter identifiable dialectical variations which are most affected by the immediate peer group."
Dr Jeanine Treffers-Daller of Bristol University said the accent could be learned from relatives. "When we are learning to speak, we adopt a local variety of language spoken by our parents, so the same could be said about the variation in the West Country cow moo."
The phenomenon was noticed by West Country cheesemakers, who put it down to the close bond between farmer and cow. The group had noted similar accent shifts in Midlands, Essex, Norfolk and Lancashire moos.
Farmer Lloyd Green of Glastonbury said: "I spend a lot of time with my ones and they definitely moo with a Somerset drawl. I think it works the same as with dogs - the closer a farmer's bond is with his animals, the easier it is for them to pick up his accent."