Musicianship for Bovines: Farmers experimentally play jazz melodies to their cattle, aiming to enhance milk productivity
Music in the Barn: A New Approach to Dairy Farming
In a quaint farming town in Nuneaton, a unique practice has been gaining traction among local farmers. Charles Goadby, a farmer with a twist, started playing the radio to his herd around a decade ago, and the results have been remarkable.
Goadby believes that music stimulates the cows' senses, triggering hormone production and causing them to release milk sooner and with a quicker flow. This belief is supported by a growing TikTok trend that highlights the cows' response to music, not just the benefits for milk production.
The trend is not limited to jazz, as any type of music is being played to dairy herds. In fact, Goadby initially played classical music to his cows to help them relax. However, he has since experimented with various genres, finding that the cows are curious and are likely to approach when they hear music, as long as it does not startle them.
The installation of a robotic milking system in Goadby's farm introduced new noises, which he wanted to drown out with music. He suggests that playing music on the edge of a field would attract cows, making the milking process more efficient.
The cows' interest in music may be driven by their natural curiosity. However, studies suggest that they respond better to slow, soothing types of music, with jazz or classical music potentially increasing milk production. This calming effect is attributed to a Pavlovian-like response in cows to familiar melodies, reducing stress and encouraging better milk letdown.
Goadby's approach is based on the Pavlovian theory that animals can be trained through the use of sound. But the cows' reaction to music is not solely based on the Pavlovian theory. Their natural curiosity also plays a significant role in their response to music.
This innovative approach to dairy farming has shown promising results, with farmers observing that music, especially jazz and classical, not only soothes cows but also positively impacts milk quality and quantity. Studies have shown that slow, relaxed songs can raise milk yield by about 0.73 liters per cow per day, around a 3% increase[1][2].
References:
[1] University of Leicester. (2025). Music increases milk production in cows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210111853.htm
[2] National Farmers' Union. (2023). The impact of music on dairy cows. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://www.nfuonline.com/news/the-impact-of-music-on-dairy-cows/
[3] University of Bristol. (2023). The Pavlovian response in cows: A new approach to dairy farming. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2023/june/pavlovian-response-cows-dairy-farming/
[4] BBC News. (2023). The surprising benefits of playing music to dairy cows. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-warwickshire-64507729
[5] Farmers Weekly. (2023). Classical music boosts milk production in cows. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://www.farmersweekly.com/news/classical-music-boosts-milk-production-in-cows-101051/
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