| Cows with names produce more milk, scientists say - 28/1/09 |
|
Cows with names produce more milk than those animals who are not named, scientists have found. Ermintrude, Daisy and La vache qui rit may produce as much as 454 pints more each year than cows with no names. In a study involving 516 dairy farmers in the UK, Dr Catherine Douglas and Dr Peter Rowlinson at Newcastle University found that treating the animals as individuals also increased production. The average amount of milk produced by a cow over its annual 10 month lactation period is 13,198 pints (7,500 litres). Those cows with names had an average higher milk yield of 454 pints (258 litres). Dr Douglas, from the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University, said: "Just as people respond better to the personal touch, cows also feel happier and more relaxed if they are given a bit more one-to-one attention. |