The Impact of Music on Milk Production and Behaviour of Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The influence of music on the milk performance of dairy cattle has been increasingly studied in recent years, although its efficacy is still being debated due to the inconsistent outcomes and a limited number of studies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of music on the milk production and behaviour of 24 lactating Jersey cattle, consisting of 10 primiparous and 14 multiparous cows. The experiment involved milk collection and behavioural observation before and after exposure to music at a dairy farm in Sitiawan, Perak. The results indicate that music and parity significantly affect the milk yield produced by a cow at p < 0.05. The cows produced significantly less milk after being exposed to music, while multiparous cows recorded significantly higher milk yields than primiparous cows. In terms of the observed behaviour, the cows displayed a significantly higher proportion of feeding and ruminating when no music was played. On the other hand, multiparous cows displayed a significantly lower proportion of feeding and ruminating, and a higher proportion of standing compared to primiparous cows. However, no significant effects of parity and music were observed in walking and lying behaviour. To conclude, music did not improve the milk yield of Jersey dairy cows in this study. Due to the inconsistencies in the outcomes of many studies related to the effect of music on milk yield, more long-term research should be conducted by considering factors that might influence milk yields, such as parity, breed, housing environment, and music selection.