Study shows increased yield in cows cuddled and called by their names

CUDDLE your cow and she’ll produce more milk, say senior researchers at Newcastle University in England.

This “fact” came to light yesterday at the unveiling of the Ig Nobel prizes, a US institution that rewards “research that makes you laugh and then makes you think”.

Dr Catherine Douglas of Newcastle University accepted the comic award in good spirits. She told the world’s media: “The amusing side of the research was that giving a cow a name meant she produced more milk and there was a lot of light- hearted discussion around what the best name might be.