‘Cows are very contact-driven and can remember up to 60 faces’

Milking of the Jersey herd and calf feeding are just two of the things visitors can see on the urban farm at Airfield Estate in Dundrum, Dublin. It is also a training centre for students taking Bray Further Education courses in animal handling, where part of the aim of the course is to foster respect for the nature of animals, explains Dr Kirstie McAdoo, Head of Education and Research at Airfield.

Having done her doctorate in climate change and methane emissions, Kirstie has a particular interest in cattle. “I’m proud to say I spent six years studying cow burps,” jokes Kirstie.

It does seem that aspects of cow cuddling, like brushing and scratching, are in tune with cow behaviour. “Cows have quite a strong social structure in the herd,” explains Kirstie. “There will be an alpha cow and the cows will go into the milking parlour in the same order.”

Grooming, where cows lick each other around the head and neck, plays a part in social networking between cows and maintaining the bonds of cohesion in a herd. Robotic brushing for cows has been found to enhance growing behaviour, reduce stress and increase milk production for dairy cows. “Cows are very contact driven and they can remember up to 60 faces,” says Kirstie.

They also know what they like. Apparently, dairy cows prefer classical music to hard rock in the milking parlour, where music has been found to increase milk production.

When Covid restrictions allow, Airfield Estate is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30am-4.30pm airfield.ie Find other farm experiences on familyfun.ie.