A photographic print of Industry, Agriculture, Milk - Miscellaneous

TV cattle just love cowboys WHEN it's television time in the cowshed the farmer switches on happily. For he claims that cowboys, cricket and commercials mean more milk in the churns. The farmer 60 year-old Charlie Pidgeon, says that TV makes his cows more contented - and there is nothing like a contented cow for giving those extra pints. He explained yesterday: "I've had the sets in the milking shed for only four days, but already there is a difference of about two gallons a day. "Some sheds have sound radio or long-playing equipment. I have gone one better and put in TV as a six-week experiment. "I shall carry on with it if the increased milk yield continues." Already the 25 "TV" cows are reported to have their own favourite programmes. Freda Fillpail, a sturdy Guernsey, watches absorbed when a "Western" comes on. Cartoon show But her stallmates, Ciderwater and Dreamland Deirdre, seem to chew more happily in their shed at Bosshill Farm, Axmouth Devon, when watching a children's cartoon show. The farmer's wife, Mrs Ethel Pidgeon, explained that the family are all TV fans, and had one of the first sets in Devon. She said: "We have two sets, one in the parlour and the other in the living room. And I believe the cows are going to take to television, too. "In the days of hand milking I used to hum and say a friendly word to the cows. They like a bit of company." And television brings the cows plenty of company. Children call at the cowshed at milking time to join the "viewers." July 1961 INDUSTRY - AGRICULTURE - MILK - MISC