Do pigs really respond to music?
Scientists are investigating pig breeders’ claims about pigs’ behavior after hearing music.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BRUSSELS – Scientists in Belgium have investigated a farmer’s allegations about pigs’ behavior after hearing the song. Her pet pigs respond in an unusual manner when they hear a roaring sound.
Piet Paesmans first noticed this phenomenon when his son began singing the song in the barn during an vaccination session. The mother looked excited and started wagging her tail.
“I think it’s too good to pass up, we should try it with other pigs as well,” Basemans told Reuters from his farm between Brussels and the Dutch border.
Since then, he’s created playlists of songs that coincide with different parts of the day. He started from playing active music when he wanted pigs to be active and lullabies at the end of the day.
“The hilarious dance songs were the most successful. They really started wagging their tails and when it got really dynamic they started dancing and playing. The rock was so strong, they didn’t like it,” Basemans said.
The farmer alerted the team of researchers who received 75,000 euros in funding from European Union funds and the Belgian region of Flanders to investigate the allegations. According to project coordinator, Sander Palmans, little is known about pigs’ reactions to music, but Paesman’s experience blends with existing knowledge about the general effects of sound on animals.
“There is no doubt that there are certain sound effects in animals. It is very likely that music will have the same effect,” Balance said.
The final results of the study are expected by the end of this year. He adds that music can help relieve stress-related boredom, even in animals. Basemans said the findings could have practical implications for industry as meat quality is affected by stress in animals.
“An outstanding athlete needs to be physically fit, but also mentally. It’s the same for pigs. When they are slaughtered, you can see when they are under a lot of stress. This is very important for the quality of the pork.” Saber: Reuters
