Restrictions on the farm cause the cow’s milk production to decline. Therefore, farmers in Moscow (Russia) have applied virtual reality technology to solve this problem – bring VR headsets to cows.
Recently, some breeders in Moscow, Russia, carried out a rather peculiar experiment on their cows by equipping the cattle with special VR devices. All this to verify if a specific and studied virtual illusion brought benefits to their milk production.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region, this experiment is being carried out to reduce the cows’ anxiety and increase their chances of producing more milk.
This unique project aims to bring cows to experience a field of simulation in a virtual reality world with colors tuned for the animals’ eyes. Under the VR system, cows will find themselves living in a rich, vibrant world. According to the breeders, this should improve the mood of the cattle and induce them to produce higher quality milk.
The VR headset is customized to fit the cow’s head structure, making them comfortable and reliable with the best view.
All this seems perfect in theory, but in practice, does it work or not? Well, apparently yes, at least in part. Yes, after the first test, experts recorded a decrease in anxiety and stress levels of the cows, thus raising their morale. However, at the moment, it is not yet possible to determine whether this will affect the quality and quantity of their milk, but further studies are still in progress.
Of course, a simpler and cheaper solution, as well as a logical one, would be to graze cattle in real green fields, but those who live in the most remote and arid areas could actually benefit from this new technology.
It is not impossible that this experiment is true. The agricultural sector has always used technology to solve various problems and animal health issues, for instance, through music. But virtual reality? What do you think about this new technology?
