Soothing tunes boost milk yields

27 June 2001



Soothing tunes boost milk yields

By FWi staff

PLAYING soothing tunes in cow sheds can help producers get more milk from their dairy herds, according to new research.

Psychologists from the University of Leicester conducted tests on 1,000 Friesians by fitting a sound system in their sheds.

Cattle were exposed fast, slow and no music from 5am to 5pm, for nine weeks.

Dr Adrian North and colleague Liam MacKenzie observed increases in yields of 0.73 litres a day in cows which were played slow tunes.

Most effective tracks included REMs Everybody Hurts, Lou Reeds Perfect Day and Simon and Garfunkels Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Researchers found no increase in yields when cows were played more rowdy music such as Size of a Cow by Wonderstuff and Muds Tigerfeet.

Dr North said increases could probably be explained by reduced levels of stress in the animals brought about by relaxing music.

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