A new survey published this month has revealed that most West Country farmers play music, sing or chat to their animals.
The majority of farmers questioned – 82 per cent – claim it makes their animals more relaxed, calm and content.
RSPCA Freedom Food's survey found that more than half of farmers in the South West play music or the radio to their animals, with Heart FM being the most popular station, followed by BBC Radio 2.
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More than half of all farmers surveyed in the South West said they talk to their animals.
Hot topics of conversation include the weather, how they or their animals are feeling, telling them how lovely they look, issues to do with the farm and general idle chit-chat as if speaking to a pet or another person.
Some dairy farmers believe that playing music at milking time can increase milk production.
Farm animal scientist for the RSPCA, Dr Marc Cooper, said: "Chatting to farm animals may sound daft but there is a clear welfare message behind Freedom Food's survey.
"The farmers said that their animals are more content, relaxed and calm when they interact with them in this way.
"Like our pets, farm animals are intelligent, sentient beings and respond well to positive interaction."
The RSPCA is pioneering a welfare tool called AssureWel to help farmers tune in to what their animals need and identify what more they can do to help give them a good life.
The aim is to improve the welfare of farm animals through a practical system for assessing their well being.