Cows are being played music: Does it increase milk productivity?

Within the scope of a project launched last year at MAKÜ, which specializes in livestock, in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the State Conservatory of Turkish Music, and the Application and Research Center for Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Research, the milk productivity of cows being played music at the university farm is being tracked, and the animals' reactions to the music are being observed.

MAKÜ State Conservatory of Turkish Music Director Prof. Dr. Zeki Nacakcı told reporters that they started this project to investigate whether it is possible to increase the milk productivity of cows through music.

Stating that in previous years, research had focused more on the effects of classical music on animals, Nacakcı noted that they differentiated their research from others by using Turkish folk music, regional music, and meditation music.

"IT APPEARS THAT..."

Nacakcı stated that they first tested the research on mice, saying, "We conducted studies affecting the stress and milk hormones of mice. In this study, we identified specific types of music. After determining at what decibel and for what duration we would play the music, we began playing music to the cows at the cattle farm at certain times of the day."

Emphasizing that cows experience the most stress when going to be milked, Nacakcı spoke as follows:

"We are conducting experiments like Pavlov by playing different music to them at that moment. We have not yet received the results of the research, but it appears that we are moving in the direction of a positive effect on milk productivity. It is clear that the cows are responding very well to the music. I did not expect them to react so strongly; when the music starts playing, they focus directly on the music and move in rhythm with it. We observed that they reacted more to Turkish folk, jazz, and meditation music compared to other types of music. We will also announce the scientific data of the project."

The project will be completed in 3 months.

News Source: 12punto