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Opera singer serenades cow herd Opera singer serenades cow herd
(about 4 hours later)
A herd of Lancashire dairy cows is being serenaded by an Italian opera singer to help improve their milk production.A herd of Lancashire dairy cows is being serenaded by an Italian opera singer to help improve their milk production.
Farmer Bobby Gill said he hoped the music would help improve the taste of ice cream produced with their milk. Farmer Bobby Gill said he hoped the music would help improve the taste of ice cream produced in a Wigan factory with their milk.
Marcello Bedoni has been singing a selection of opera favourites in one of the fields at the Sabden farm. Marcello Bedoni has been singing a special selection of opera in one of the fields at the Sabden farm.
The quality of the milk will be taste-tested at their end of the musical day to see if it has made an difference. The quality of the milk will be taste-tested at their end of the musical day.
Mr Gill: "We bought Marcello in to sing to the cows to produce better quality milk. Mr Bedoni flew to the UK especially for the cow concert for ice cream firm Federici's.
"It keeps everything relaxed and helps to enjoy life." Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, dairy adviser to the National Farmers' union, said: "Soothing sounds or music can reduce stress and induce relaxation and a healthy, contented cow is likely to produce more milk and anything that enhances that can only be a good thing."
Mr Bedoni said the serenading was "a great occasion".Mr Bedoni said the serenading was "a great occasion".
"They are a great audience," he added."They are a great audience," he added.