In an effort to improve the well being and increase the quantity and quality of the milk produced, a Russian farm has given its dairy cows virtual reality headsets.
According to a research by Moscow’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food there is a link between a cow’s emotional experience and its milk yield.
The project subjected cattle to a simulated summer field, away from grim reality of being trapped in a crowded farm.
To make the cows see properly, a team of developers, with the help of veterinarians and consultants for dairy production made headsets adapted to the “structural features” of cows’ heads. Moreover the colors were also tuned for the animals’ eyes.
Until now, it’s unclear if these headsets have helped milk production. But initial tests revealed decrease in anxiety and an increase in the “the overall emotional mood of the herd”.
