According to a study by psychologists at the University of Leicester, milk production can increase by as much as 3 percent when cows are listening to slow music.

Similar to humans, slow jams can help relieve stress and relax the cows getting them in a friendlier mood to be milked. While 3 percent may not sound like a lot, but when you multiply that by all the dairy cows it could really help out the milk industry. So the next time you need Bessie to bust out a gallon, throw on some Barry White so she can get it on.

Though the study is over ten years old, farmers agree with the results. Modern Farmer talked to some farmers who believe it's not so much the genre of the music that matters as much as the beat of the song:

“[In studies] animals seemed, in general, to find slow, rhythmic music most relaxing. Perhaps easy listening or new age would be best.”

Besides simply calming the cows, the music also helps to drown out more unpleasant sounds such as machinery and other loud noises. As much as the cows love music, apparently they aren't fond of Willie Nelson's stuff -- the country legend tends to rile them up.

H/T Consumerist, Modern Farmer