Otis is an adventurous and playful Holstein cow living on a farm where the animals possess human-like qualities unbeknownst to their human caretakers. He enjoys every moment spent with his closest companions, including Pip the mouse, Freddy the ferret, Peck the rooster, and Pig the pig, all while resisting the weight of responsibilities and rules that govern their lives. This carefree attitude, however, frustrates his strict adoptive father, Ben, the authoritative leader of the farm's dynamic.
One day, following Otis's familiar antics that disrupt a routine morning roll call, Ben chastises him with a sobering truth: he will never discover true happiness unless he grows up. As fate would have it, the very same day, Otis crosses paths with a widowed cow named Daisy, who arrives at the farm expecting a calf with her friend Bessy. That evening, the animals host a raucous bash in the barn, while Otis attempts to persuade Ben to take a break from his watchful position. During their heartfelt exchange, Ben poignantly reveals that when he first found Otis as a calf, "the stars appeared to dance."
Tragedy strikes when a pack of coyotes, led by the vicious Dag, assaults Ben. Though Ben bravely fights them off, he sustains fatal injuries. Otis receives the heartbreaking news and races to his father's side as Ben succumbs to his wounds. The next morning, the farmer lays Ben to rest, and after his departure, the farm community gathers to pay their respects.
In a turn of events, the animals convene to elect Otis as their new leader; however, he quickly evades the responsibilities of leadership, passing on his duties to Freddy and Peck. Eager for revenge against a troublesome youth nicknamed "Snotty Boy" who harassed him, Otis enlists the help of several mischievous Jersey cows and manages to avoid the police during their antics. As their bond deepens, Otis shares a tender moment with Daisy, who confides in him about the loss of her herd to a catastrophic flood, drawing them closer as Otis offers her solace.
However, Otis's newfound maturity is soon put to the test when he witnesses the coyotes pursuing a hapless rabbit. Fueled by a desire for revenge against Dag, he confronts the coyotes, but ultimately realizes he is outmatched. Dag exploits Otis's vulnerability, mockingly reminding him that he allowed his father to perish while he was off enjoying himself. The cunning Dag makes a sinister offer: the coyotes will seize farm animals at will, and should Otis attempt to intervene, they will indiscriminately slay them. Faced with this perilous situation and the realization that victory may be unattainable, Otis decides to leave the comforts of the farm behind, aspiring for a new beginning in the city, donning the alias "milkmen."
Before his departure, an urgent message arrives: the coyotes have kidnapped the hens, among them Maddy, a chick who idolizes Otis. Unprepared for their attack, Otis bravely heads into the coyotes' den to rescue the hens. After a fierce battle, the tide turns in his favor, until Dag, seizing an opportunity, tries to ambush him. Fortunately, Peck finally learns to crow, alerting Otis just in time. In a climactic showdown, Otis manages to deflect Dag's assault and sends him into retreat, vowing to keep the farm safe.
On their journey back, Pip updates Otis that Daisy has gone into labor following his earlier departure. In a daring move, the animals commandeer motorcycles from a nearby biker gang, making their way back just in time to witness the birth of Daisy's calf, whom she lovingly names "Li'l Ben." In this pivotal moment, Otis fully embraces his role as the new leader of the farm, gazing up at the night sky where the stars take the form of himself, Daisy, and Li'l Ben, symbolizing their unity and the enduring legacy of his father, thus paving the way for a bright future ahead.
