Why cows adore classical (but can’t abide country)

IF you want more milk from your cows, play them Mozart, Beethoven or Bach – but never Dolly Parton or Johnny Cash.

For farm animals hate country music and produce significantly less milk when played popular US ballads, say researchers.

On the other hand they adore soothing, classical tunes – and milk yields shoot up when they listen to famous composers and more relaxing songs.

Country music was played to 45 cows at a farm near Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, to see if it would increase the amount of their milk.

Yet all but one of the animals produced less during the experiment, which led to the overall yield of the herd falling by 3 per cent.

The experiment was conducted by ice cream firm Mackie’s and was partly inspired by an earlier survey that suggested cows produced more milk if classical music was played.

Colin Clyne, an Aberdeen-based musician and founder of Stonehaven’s Doricana Fest, created a soundtrack to play to the herd.

Strangely, one cow, pregnant with a second calf due next March, increased her milk yield by one litre [1.75pts] between August and last month. The country songs that were played to the cows as part of the experiment were all Mr Clyne’s own ballads.

Titles include Merry Go Round, Top of the Mountain and Sizzle Not the Steak.

Despite their dislike of the genre, the study showed cows were curious about the music, with 73 per cent of the sample group increasing their visits to the milking robot during the musical fortnight.

Lesley Skene, Mackie’s farm administrator, said: ‘If we are to judge an increased yield as a sign that a cow liked country music, then we have at least one big fan among the herd.

‘I couldn’t believe it once the data had been analysed, as I had spotted her in particular moving in to enjoy the silage in the spot closest to the music source.’

Karin Mackie, the firm’s marketing director, said: ‘Although the yields are down we are considering expanding the trial and investing in more suitable overhead speakers for the byre.

‘It would be fun to see if we can successfully replicate the earlier study where milk yields were enhanced by playing soothing classical music.’

Mr Clyne said: ‘It has been fun visiting the experiment on the farm. I won’t be worrying about the milk yield too much, as long as the cows are enjoying the music.’

In 2001 scientists at Leicester University played songs to more than 1,000 Holstein-Friesians.

The cattle who listened to slower songs produced 3 per cent more milk than average cows did, while more upbeat songs seemed to trouble the herd and reduced the yield.