Koshio talking softly to cows (in Nakashibetsu town, Hokkaido)
Just saying “Good morning” to your milking cows can increase their milk production. In a study coducted by a 24-year-old farm helper at a dairy farm in Nakashibetsu town, Hokkaido, cows produced more milk after receiving friendly cares, stroking and approaching, and less after receiving slaps or being shouted at. The stock handler, Haruka Koshio, also confirmed that first-calf heifers are more susceptible to such emotional experiences.
Koshio showing reduce copy of her presentation material at ISAE conferrence
Koshio presented her report at the 50th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) held in the U.K. in the summer of 2016 and the drive to encourage gentle cow handling is growing in Japan.
“Positive interaction” is key to higher milk yield
In Koshio’s calculation, one preferable action of human increased the milk production of one first-calf heifer by approximately 600 ml per one milking while one negative behavior of human acounted for a 425-ml reduction in the milk production of one first-calf heifer. The negative behaviors include fast chasing and shouting.