Latest news with #BenWaters
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
UK dairy farmers play jazz to cows, boosting milk production
In 2021, Hollis Meade, a Devon organic dairy farm, organised a concert for its cows at which the jazz pianist Ben Waters played. Owner Oliver Hemsley said his cows had loved the music, adding: 'It provided some sort of distraction. They looked very happy. When the music started, they looked a little bemused, then moved quietly and quickly to their food.' While jazz is now in vogue, for several years it has been popular for dairy farmers to play classical music while milking their cows, Hemsley said. 'We've been doing it for a long time. It does relax the cows,' he added. On a recent edition of BBC's Farmwatch, the saxophonist Julian Smith performed with a guitarist for an audience of cattle at Chesterton Fields Farm in Warwickshire. Charles Goadby, a dairy farmer based in Nuneaton, told the broadcaster he had been playing music to his cows for nearly a decade. He said: 'We installed a robotic milking system and there were a lot of new harsh sounds and noises, so we wanted to drown that out and give them a constant sound. 'This was about 10 years ago, and somebody suggested the cows like classical music – that was the trend back then – so I put a classical radio station on for the cows to listen to, and it just helps them relax a little bit. 'We always have music on in the milking parlour... not just for the staff to listen to. 'It's a little bit like the Pavlov dog theory, where it's waking up the senses, it starts their hormone production off, and actually, the cows will release a little bit sooner and that milk flow will be a little bit quicker. 'It helps relax the cows and the workers – so that's a win-win all round.' For a study published in 2001 by academics from the University of Leicester, 1000 Holstein Friesians were played music for 12 hours a day for several weeks. When the cattle listened to slow and relaxed songs, their milk yield rose by 0.73 litres per cow per day, a 3% increase. The songs selected included Aretha Franklin's What a Difference a Day Makes and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. However, the researchers discovered that listening to lively music with more than 120 beats per minute reduced the rate of milk production. According to a 2019 study, Holstein Friesian cows that listened to The Classical Chillout Gold Collection, a compilation album, were calmer and took more time to rest than peers who were listening to country music or no music at all. Meanwhile, a 2021 paper examining the impact of playing music to livestock concluded: 'It would seem that music genres with a subdued, natural sound (such as classical or relaxing music) are the best and safest choice for both cattle and humans.' Juan Velez, the executive vice-president of US-based Aurora Organic Farms, told Modern Farmer: 'In terms of music, in my 30 years working with dairy cows, I have found that music can be beneficial to the wellbeing of the cows, but it must be consistent and calming.' Rob Hadley, who also farms in Warwickshire, told the BBC his cows were 'very relaxed about the jazz' and would probably like any music other than Birmingham heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. He said: 'Truthfully, a bit of Ozzy Osbourne would scare the socks off them.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Why farmers are playing jazz to cows
Dairy farmers are playing jazz to their cows to relax them and boost milk production. The trend, spreading thanks to TikTok, has encouraged farmers to bring musical instruments and portable speakers to the edge of fields to serenade cattle. In one clip posted to the social media site, an employee of Smithills Open Farm, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: 'We've seen some videos online so we're going to test out if our Jersey cows like jazz.' When Glenn Miller 's In The Mood, a 1940s jazz standard, begins playing, a herd of cows rushes towards the speaker. 'Well, our cows love jazz,' the employee says. In 2021, Hollis Meade, a Devon organic dairy farm, organised a concert for its cows at which the jazz pianist Ben Waters played. Owner Oliver Hemsley said his cows had loved the music, adding: 'It provided some sort of distraction. They looked very happy. When the music started, they looked a little bemused then moved quietly and quickly to their food.' While jazz is now in vogue, for several years it has been popular for dairy farmers to play classical music while milking their cows, Mr Hemsley said. 'We've been doing it for a long time. It does relax the cows,' he added. On a recent edition of BBC's Farmwatch, the saxophonist Julian Smith performed with a guitarist for an audience of cattle at Chesterton Fields Farm in Warwickshire. Charles Goadby, a dairy farmer based in Nuneaton, told the broadcaster he had been playing music to his cows for nearly a decade. He said: 'We installed a robotic milking system and there were a lot of new harsh sounds and noises, so we wanted to drown that out and give them a constant sound. 'This was about 10 years ago and somebody suggested the cows like classical music – that was the trend back then – so I put a classical radio station on for the cows to listen to and it just helps them relax a little bit. 'We always have music on in the milking parlour... not just for the staff to listen to. It's a little bit like the Pavlov dog theory, where it's waking up the senses, it starts their hormone production off, and actually the cows will release a little bit sooner and that milk flow will be a little bit quicker. 'It helps relax the cows and the workers – so that's a win-win all round.' For a study published in 2001 by academics from the University of Leicester, 1,000 Holstein Friesians were played music for 12 hours a day for several weeks. When the cattle listened to slow and relaxed songs, their milk yield rose by 0.73 litres per cow per day, a 3 per cent increase. The songs selected included Aretha Franklin 's What a Difference a Day Makes and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. However, the researchers discovered that listening to lively music with more than 120 beats per minute reduced the rate of milk production. According to a 2019 study, Holstein Friesian cows who listened to The Classical Chillout Gold Collection, a compilation album, were calmer and took more time to rest than peers who were listening to country music or no music at all. Meanwhile, a 2021 paper examining the impact of playing music to livestock concluded: 'It would seem that music genres with a subdued, natural sound (such as classical or relaxing music) are the best and safest choice for both cattle and humans.' Juan Velez, the executive vice president of US-based Aurora Organic Farms, told Modern Farmer: 'In terms of music, in my 30 years working with dairy cows, I have found that music can be beneficial to the well-being of the cows, but it must be consistent and calming.' Rob Hadley, who also farms in Warwickshire, told the BBC his cows were 'very relaxed about the jazz' and would probably like any music other than Birmingham heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. He said: 'Truthfully, a bit of Ozzy Osbourne would scare the socks off them.'
CBC
11-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Manitoba's U18 boys football team strikes gold in national Indigenous championship
It was a gold medal for Manitoba's Indigenous High-Performance Team at the 2025 Indigenous Football Canada U18 Men's National Championships in Winnipeg last week. A tight, competitive championship game between Team Alberta and Team Manitoba led to the home team picking up the victory 42-34, the first time Manitoba has won gold in a national tackle football tournament since 2006. This was quarterback Ben Waters's second time competing for the U18 Indigenous Cup. "The whole thing is incredible, like the support that we've gotten and like seeing us all grow as a team and just the whole culture around it, it's just been unbelievable," said Waters, who is Red River Métis. Some of that support comes from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have helped with costs for the team and provided jerseys with 'Manitoba' in Cree syllabics across the chest and the Blue Bombers starblanket logo on the shoulders. Football Manitoba also had a design drawn up for the tournament logo by Kiera Bowley, an athlete from Manitoba's U18 Girls football team. Fans, friends, and family descended on St. Vital Mustangs Field in Winnipeg for the third Indigenous U18 National Championship. It was the first time that the tournament, featuring teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario, was held in Manitoba. Trenton Bourassa, a member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, said it was an honour to represent the province in football at an national tournament. "We have hockey and lacrosse, obviously, but it's great that the football industry is growing as well, and I can't wait to just see how the tournaments go on from here," he said. Russell Wallace, head coach of the team and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation, said the team's victory goes beyond the field. "To have success in a national tournament, I think these players going home and being able to share that with their families, I think that goes a long way," he said. Bourassa said his family and friends were excited by the win. "They all supported me throughout this journey, and they all inspired me to keep on working my butt off and going every day," he said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Internationally renowned musician Ben Waters to embark on Dorset tour
Weymouth-born and now Sherborne-based boogie-woogie musician Ben Waters is embarking on a string of performances across Dorset. On his tour, the boogie-woogie pianist will also re-release an album that features other big names, including The Rolling Stones. The internationally renowned musician has just completed a whirlwind year of captivating audiences across the globe, with performances at the Sydney Opera House and Blue Note Hawaii. Ben also made history with a unique gig at 17,000 feet aboard the Andean Explorer in Peru, the highest gig in the world. Ben is set to re-release his album in May, which pays tribute to Rolling Stones founder Ian Stewart. This special album saw Rolling Stones members collaborate with him in memory of Stewart and includes new bonus tracks such as a rendition of John Lee Hooker's Come Back Baby and a cover of Chuck Berry's Bio. READ: Made in Chelsea stars in Dorset at Lulworth Cove house The upcoming months Ben also promise more personal performances across Dorset as he returns home from his international touring spree. He said: "It's been unbelievable, overwhelming and so much fun, but nothing beats coming back home to beautiful Dorset." Visit for the full list of shows and to purchase tickets. His recent musical ventures have seen him collaborate with stars like The Rolling Stones, Cher and George Thorogood. Ben's own music extravaganza, the Raising Spirit Festival, is set to return this summer featuring celebrated artists like New Orleans pianist Jon Cleary and UK chart-topper Toploader. Many more acts are lined up for the summer festival held on Ben's farm. Information and tickets for the festival are available at READ: Two days of rock & pop music: Ultimate Festivals Looking at his hometown shows, Ben has encouraged music enthusiasts not to miss the electric performances he is set to bring to the south-west. After having jazzed up stages from Nevada to Paris and New Orleans to the Isles of Scilly, Sherborne's very own international sensation, Ben Waters promises to set the stage on fire with his high-octane homecoming performances. Aligning with the promise of an electrifying performance and energy-filled shows, he is sure to keep attendees captivated and enthralled throughout his tour.
