The examples of cow practices that were different from popular beliefs include:
1. Cow meat was prohibited as good for Hindus.
2. Cow was a god in Hindi and was worshipped.
3. Cows are treated by Hindus as part of their family.
It should be noted that in Hinduism, cow wasn't eaten as food as it was considered a symbol of life and shouldn't be killed.
Verses of the Rigveda considered the cow to be a goddesses that was identified with Aditi himself. Indian families have at least a diary cow that they treat as the member of their family.