In an experiment in Campania, 250 cows of the mediterranea italiana breed, commonly known as buffalo, will listen to 30 competition entries from this year's Sanremo Festival. The experience aims to study the impact of music on their welfare, behavior, and milk yield. Scientists want to check whether specific sounds can lower the animals' stress levels and positively affect the production of mozzarella di bufala cheese.
Music experiment in farming
In stables in Torcino di Capua in Campania, 250 buffalo will listen to all competition entries from the 76th Sanremo Festival as part of a scientific study.
Goal: welfare and production
The main goal is to observe the influence of music on the animals' behavior, stress levels, and milk yield, which could translate into cheese quality.
Historical animal context
Animals have often appeared in Sanremo songs, but this is the first time they themselves are becoming listeners of the entire competition.
In an unusual scientific experiment, 250 cows of the mediterranea italiana breed, popularly called buffalo, will listen to all 30 songs competing in the 76th Sanremo Festival. The experiment will be conducted on farms in the town of Torcino di Capua in the province of Caserta in the Campania region. Scientists intend to observe the animals' reactions to different musical genres, checking whether sound influences their calmness, social behavior within the herd, and ultimately the quantity and quality of milk produced. Buffalo milk is a key ingredient of the protected Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, so any factors that can improve animal welfare and yield are of significant economic importance to local producers. The experiment is not the first scientific study on the influence of music on cattle, but it is likely the most culturally recognizable due to the use of repertoire from Italy's most important music festival. As sources explain, it is based on previous industry studies which indicated that calm music can reduce stress in farm animals, potentially translating into better production indicators. Italian breeders have been experimenting with sound in stables for years, often playing classical or relaxation music to the animals. „L'esperimento si basa su studi di settore che hanno evidenziato l'effetto della musica sulla produzione di latte” (The experiment is based on sector studies that have highlighted the effect of music on milk production.) — Adnkronos article. The Italian Song Festival in Sanremo has been held continuously since 1951 and is one of the longest-running and most important music festivals in Europe. Its winners often represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the decades, numerous animal motifs have appeared in the competition's song lyrics, from Nilla Pizzi's "La colomba" to Marcella Bella's "Il coniglio" and contemporary songs. This year's edition of the festival, like previous ones, attracts the attention of all of Italy, and now also its most famous dairy cows. The results of the experiment may be released after the festival ends and the observation period concludes. The initiative unusually combines the worlds of popular culture, advanced animal husbandry, and local culinary tradition, highlighting Italian breeders' innovative approach to animal welfare.