Leanne Alworth, professor and director of the Office of Animal Care and Use in the College of Veterinary Medicine, spoke with Legal Reader about a new method British farmers are using to keep cows calm and boost their milk output: playing music.
Previous research suggests that soothing sounds help make cows calm, which makes them more productive. Stress can reduce milk output.
“I am not sure why there is not more research on the cow-music-milk production relationship,” Alworth said. “Perhaps because most researchers interested in animal welfare are not looking at production parameters specifically?”