A farmer in Turkey uses unusual methods to get his cows to produce more milk: pretending they are standing in a green meadow. This works with so-called virtual reality (VR) goggles, which he places on cows. Classical music is also played in the barn.
Increases milk production
Izzet Kocak, who lives in Aksaray Province in Central Anatolia and owns 180 animals, uses virtual reality glasses to simulate green pastures when the animals are in the barn. His plan appears to be working: The daily milk production of the two cows he tests cups has increased by five liters within a week, Kojak says. He confirmed that he only uses VR glasses for 20 minutes a day, but that cows are still allowed to graze. Now he wants to test whether the quality of the milk is improving.
Criticism from animal rights activists
The farmer wants to try out the system on three more cows in the coming weeks, and he has also contacted researchers from Germany, Russia and Great Britain. Animal rights activists criticize the concept. Ahmet Kemal Senbulat, head of the Turkish animal rights organization Haytap, warned that this method should not mean keeping animals in cages. This is “torture” and a violation of animal rights.
