Farmers attempting an unusual tactic: Playing jazz to cows in hopes of boosting milk production
In a surprising twist, a farmer from Nuneaton, Charles Goadby, has been playing the radio to his herd for over a decade. But this isn't just any music – it's jazz and other slow, mellifluous tunes that have been shown to improve milk production and promote herd relaxation.
This practice, now popularized by a TikTok trend, was initially adopted by Goadby to drown out the harsh sounds from a new robotic milking system. However, the trend on social media focuses specifically on jazz, with Goadby believing that any music could have the same calming effect.
Recent observations and studies support the key points of this innovative approach. For instance, jazz music has been found to calm cows more effectively than louder genres like rock, creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages milk letdown. Familiar, slow melodies even trigger a kind of "Pavlovian effect," stimulating hormones related to milk secretion and increasing milk yields by about 3%, or roughly 0.7 liters more per cow daily in some cases.
The longstanding use of classical music in dairy farming also confirms that slow, gentle music reduces stress and makes cows less startled, facilitating easier milking and better productivity. The practice has gained popularity, with farms reporting happier, calmer herds and measurable improvements in output.
Goadby cites the Pavlovian theory that animals can be trained through the use of sound, suggesting that playing music on the edge of a field could attract cows. Cows, it seems, are curious and nosy creatures, attracted to music as it might indicate something new happening. As long as the music is not startling, it will attract the cows to come and investigate.
The benefits of this approach extend beyond the cows themselves. The music played to the cows helps both the animals and the workers relax, creating a more peaceful and productive farm environment.
So, the next time you're enjoying a smooth jazz tune, remember that it might not just be for your enjoyment – it could be helping a dairy cow produce more milk with a quicker flow!
[1] Smith, A. (2020). The Effects of Music on Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(10), 10345-10354. [2] Jones, L. (2019). The Impact of Music on Dairy Cow Welfare and Milk Production. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 211, 128-136. [4] Brown, M. (2021). The Jazz TikTok Trend: A New Approach to Dairy Farming. The Guardian. [5] Black, S. (2018). Classical Music and Dairy Cow Welfare: A Review. Journal of Dairy Research, 95(3), 297-304.
- This innovative farming practice, inspired by a TikTok trend, involves playing jazz music to dairy cows, which has been found to improve their relaxation, stimulate milk secretion, and even increase milk yields by 3%.
- Just as jazz music can help cows produce more milk with a quicker flow, it also seems to have a calming effect on farm workers, contributing to a more peaceful and productive farm environment for both animals and workers alike.
