Mooving images: Cows in a Turkish farm have been equipped with virtual-reality headsets to lower their stress levels and ultimately induce milk production.
The experience whisks them away from the agricultural environment they live in into a simulation of an open summer field.
The concept might seem dystopian to many, as not only are the mammals being handed the illusion of frolicking in a more beautiful space, but—unlike VR experiences for humans—they’re unaware that they are just going through a simulation.
However, Izzet Kocak, the farmer who has purchased the headsets, insists that the technology is a win-win situation. The two cows who have tested them are said to be more relaxed now that they believe they’re on greener pastures and, as a result, have been producing more milk.
On average, cows in this farm produce a daily average of 22 liters of milk, the farmer told Turkish news outlet Anadolu Ajansi. With the goggles on, the duo is yielding an average of 27 liters.
❝İşletmemizdeki ineklerden günlük ortalama 22 litre süt alıyoruz. Sanal gerçeklik gözlüğü taktığım 2 ineğin süt ortalaması 27 litreye kadar çıktı❞
🐮🐄 İneklere sanal gerçeklikle yeşil çayırları izleterek süt üretimini artırmayı hedefliyor https://t.co/YDI2lUmqBT pic.twitter.com/Zz5tPEVuHM
— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) January 6, 2022
Per Metro.co.uk, the cow-friendly headsets—developed with the help of vets and consultants—were first trialed on a Moscow farm. To make imagery more realistic for the animals, who cannot see red or green, visuals were tweaked to match their perception of dull yellow and blue.
VR isn’t the only source of entertainment Kocak has tried to improve his cows’ mental wellbeing. He has also played classical music to calm the mammals down.
However, the headsets have worked so well, he intends to purchase 10 more to boost milk production.
[via
http://www.designtaxi.com/news/417336/Cows-In-Farm-Are-Given-VR-Headsets-To-Simulate-Living-In-Lusher-Pastures/
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