Daisy and Buttercup could produce 454 pints more each year than unnamed cows says a study of 516 dairy farmers in the UK.
Drs Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson of Newcastle University found that treating the animals as individuals could also increase production.
The average amount of milk produced by a cow 13,198 pints (7,500 litres) during it's normal 10 month lactation period - but cows with names yielded on average 454 pints (258 litres) more
Apparently cows also feel happier and more relaxed when given a bit more one-to-one attention, just like people do. So increased milk production can be easily obtained, at no extra cost, by placing more importance on knowing the individual animals and calling them by name.
The study, published in the academic journal Anthrozoos, found that the milk yield was lower on farms that herded cattle as a group. 60% of UK farmers said they knew all the cows in the herd with 48% agreeing that positive human contact would produce cows with a good milking temperament and nearly 10 % saying that fear of humans gave a poor milking temperament.
There we are then, stop feeling embarassed about talking to your cows and get chatting!
