Naming Cows Improves Milking Temperament

This study by Newcastle University (England) examines how farmers’ attitudes toward their cows may influence milk production. About half of U.K. farmers believe that positive human contact is likely to lead to “good milking temperament.”

This study was conducted among 516 U.K. dairy farmers. Among the major findings:

• 46% of farmers call their cows by name and those that did so had on average a 258 litre higher milk yield than those who did not.
• 66% of farmers say they “knew all the cows in the herd” and 48% agree that positive human contact is more likely to produce cows with a good milking temperament.
• Almost 10% said that a fear of humans resulted in poor milking temperaments.