Or you can look at the case of "Cargo cults" where some island peoples imitated the practices of colonial Europeans/Americans. They would see their weird temples that were just barren land with a tower (airstrips), men wearing ridiculous headdresses (radio headsets), and bizarre sound boxes (radios), then they tried to craft their own using coconuts and whatever else they had lying around in an effort to appease the gods and receive the same gifts that the foreigners got. It's kind of interesting, they saw the real world benefits of technology, but then attributed it to the workings of the gods.
An example of a Cargo Cult ritual observed circa 2022:
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On a tropical island in the South West Pacific, a few dozen men gather in the rainforest. They are wearing long trousers but no shoes or shirts, and red paint marks the initials U.S.A. on their bare chests. Carrying thick bamboo poles painted with red stripes, the men greet each other cordially and muck around for a while.
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Suddenly, the toll of a bell abruptly changes the mood. Everyone stands upright, looking solemn and purposeful. A frail-looking older man in a worn-out military jacket several sizes too large shouts something in Bislama, a pidgin language common in Vanuatu, and the men get in formation. They place their bamboo poles on their shoulders like rifles, and at the next command begin marching in lockstep through the jungle.
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Their destination is a clearing in the forest that looks like a landing strip. But the only airplane present is a full-size wooden replica of a light aircraft. On one side of the strip lies a control tower made of bamboo. On the other sits a satellite dish built of mud and straw. Undeterred by the apparent lack of any actual aviation technology, some of the men light torches and place them alongside the runway. Others use flags to wave landing signals. Everyone raises their gaze to the sky in anticipation.
One of my favorite things about it is this exchange:
[John] Champion suggested that Prince Philip send them a portrait of himself. He agreed and sent a signed official photograph. The villagers responded by sending him a traditional pig-killing club
Just the tool that every Prince Consort/Vampire-Zombie needs!
My impression after reading up on it is that cows are so economically important in a pre-industrial society. They can plow the fields, they give us dairy, and many societies brought their animals indoors with them to stay warm in the winter.
The sacred status of cows seems to have to do with the prohibition of eating meat. If you kill a cow you can't milk it anymore, it can't work your fields, and it ceases to become a productive member of society. In this sense, it seems that cattle were recognized as being a vulnerable member of society. It makes sense then that people would want them treated equitably and not be slaughtered. Most people would probably have a similar aversion to eating a steak made out of the family dog.
Not odd, really. Like the other commenter said it basically boils down to how important cows were to ancient societies. Hathor, Apis etc in ancient Egypt for example. Hinduism was concocted around the same time so it makes sense. Hinduism survived, ancient Egyptian religions did not. Another example is Sun as God in both ancient Egypt and Hinduism.