Farming Matters by Andrew Pye

Last updated at 15:05, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

I DON’T mind a little bit of Chris Evans in the morning on BBC Radio 2, and it appears the cows don’t mind it either.

POSITIVE: Andrew Pye, Ulverston group secretary of the National Farmers’ Union

New survey results have revealed that the majority of farmers play music and talk to their animals to help them feel more relaxed. The research revealed that 77 per cent of farmers in Britain play music, sing and talk to their animals – they claim this makes the animals more relaxed, calm and content.

The survey also shows that nearly half (44 per cent) of farmers play music or the radio to their animals, with Radio 2 being the most popular station (played by 23 per cent) followed by Radio 1 (14 per cent). Adele, Bon Jovi, Coldplay and Eminem were named as artists popular in farmyards.

Other key highlights from the survey of farmers include:

• Twenty eight per cent said they also play talk shows with Radio Five Live being the most popular station (19 per cent), followed by Radio Four’s Today programme (10 per cent) and talkSPORT (10 per cent);
• Ten per cent of farmers said they even sing to their animals including opera, hymns, 60s and 70s tracks, top 20 hits, rugby anthems, piggy nursery rhymes and the soundtrack to the film Born Free. Aerosmith and Nirvana were also named as bands popular in farmyards.

I’m not surprised by the results of this survey. Lots of farmers in Cumbria routinely play music and talk to their animals as they believe it not only relaxes them but also boosts production – such as milk yields in dairy cows.

The research carried out by Writtle College is interesting but needs to be backed up by scientific evidence before we can say that this method actually works. British farmers care about the health and welfare of their animals and will use every tool in the box available to them to ensure their animals remain healthy and happy.

First published at 13:37, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk