La vache qui rit?

Being a cow today is no laughing matter, as is evident from this film. Our primary association with cows - amiable animals that are ruminating all day in a picturesque green meadow - is becoming rather outdated. For instance, let us take a look at modern dairies. Sensors feel the lower part of the body and register the udder's height and place. Sound waves determine the position of the teats, before the milking machine automatically sucks them in. The farmer monitors the software. When a cow passes the 100,000-litre mark, the farmer throws a reception party for the whole region, the supercow being the radiant centre of attention. Or shall we look at modern reproduction? Bulls are kept away from cows, because it only puts them off their stroke. They would not be fooled by the artificial cow anymore that they have to mount three times a week in the AI centre. The father of the most productive calves enters the top 10 of bulls. Do cows actually want a reception or supersperm? This film looks at this issue from the cow's point of view.