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Cows Wearing VR headsets Might Produce Better Milk
Moscow-area farmers strapped modified virtual reality headsets to cows to see how it affected their mood and milk production.
Credit: Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region
It's not just humans who can benefit from VR. Moscow-area farmers strapped modified VR headsets to cows to see if it improved their mood -- and, of course, their milk production. The project subjected cattle to a simulated summer field with colors tuned for the animals' eyes, giving them a decidedly more pleasing landscape than a plain, confining farm. And yes, the headsets were adapted to the "structural features" of cows' heads so that they could see properly.
It appears to have worked, at least on a basic level. The first test reduced the cows' anxiety and boosted their overall sentiment. While it's not certain how well this affects the quality or volume of milk, there are plans for a more "comprehensive" study to answer that question.
From Engadget
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