The herd donned VR systems adapted for the "structural features of cow heads" and were shown a "unique summer field simulation programme".
Moscow's Ministry of Agriculture and Food cites research showing a link between a cow's emotional experience and its milk yield. Initial headset tests boosted "the overall emotional mood of the herd".
"Examples of dairy farms from different countries show that in a calm atmosphere, the quantity, and sometimes the quality, of milk increases markedly."
Researchers will examine the effects of the programme in a long-term study. The developers reportedly hope to expand the project if positive results continue.
Do we see here a glimmer of hope for our state-owned entities?
Could we put virtual reality headsets on the board members of Eskom, SAA, Prasa and the rest, plus – and this is very important – the trade union officials, so that all can see how the real world operates and be persuaded to act accordingly?
Visions of competitiveness, productivity, realistic workforces, and pay structures, with employees being rewarded for getting stuck in and rewarded for going the extra mile. Could our SOEs be imbued with all this?
Virtual reality headpieces could be our only hope of introducing the new reality everyone would like to see.
Disappeared
OVERHEARD in the Street Shelter for the Over-Forties: "My mother-in-law's disappeared from home. Just like that – vanished."
"You should give her description to the police."
"They'd never believe me."
It's a he … it's a she … it's a he
IS HE A dog or is she a bitch? There's been some confusion over the sex of the Belgian malinois – a dog of unusual shaggy appearance - that played such a role in the recent hunting down and killing by US forces of an IS kingpin in northern Syria.
On a triumphant visit to the White House after recovering from injuries sustained in the operation, the dog, Conan, was referred to by President Trump several times as "he", according to Sky News.
But then a White House official said the dog was female – then changed his mind a few hours later (perhaps having observed Conan's interaction with a tree). And then changed his mind again, saying Conan was female after all. Then he switched back again to male.
The White House press corps were getting confused.
Enter the Pentagon, who actually employ Conan. Its officials told ABC News that Conan is "a girl".
Then two more defence officials waded in almost immediately to correct that, telling ABC they had "triple checked" and Conan "for sure" is a boy.
This serious debate continued to rage on Twitter, with some claiming photos of the dog clearly show it's female, and Senator Ted Cruz joking: "Actually, she identifies as a cat."
But eventually, it seems, there's consensus that Conan is a boy. (Unless they change their mind). Quite so, he's obviously named after Arthur Conan Doyle who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories. Elementary, my dear Watson.
Tailpiece
PADDY and Mick are walking home along the railway line after an evening in the pub.
Paddy: "Dis staircase seems awfully long."
Mick: " Yes, and de handrail's so low."
Last word
As a matter of principle, I never attend the first annual anything. - George Carlin
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