Cows are liked more than other animals.

No Hindu thinks that a cow is some sort of "divine" being, which can bestow boons if prayed to. However, you will see some hindus seemingly bowing their heads to cows as part of what may seem to someone like a prayer.

Cows are held sacred not just by Hindus, but by buddhists and Jains too. The underlying cause of recent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar was what else, cow slaughter. see this one news

Jains are another religious tradition, which hate cow slaughter much more than Hindus. Even Sikhs don't normally indulge in beef or cow slaughter.