Sounds Of Bawling Calves Prompt Cows To Produce More Milk

Sounds Of Bawling Calves Prompt Cows To Produce More Milk DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy Equipment & Ideas 27-2-33 Researchers at the University of California vet school in Tulare have been able to boost milk production 1 to 2 percent by playing the sound of bawling calves in milking parlors. Brenda McCowan, lead researcher for the project, found that milk production increased for the session immediately following the session in which cows heard the calf tapes. Her conclusion was that the sounds stimulated a biochemical reaction resulting in more production later, and was not merely an increase in milk letdown. The boost in production was relatively inexpensive to induce. All you need is a tape player and a couple speakers. McCowan simply taped 4 different calves right at feeding time. She tried to make the tapes as realistic-sounding as possible and then played them back at "calf height" in the parlor. Tapes were played on alternating days in order to confirm the boost in production.

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.