Violinist & composer Katie Jacoby
Violinist & composer Katie Jacoby
If you follow us on social media, you’ve probably seen us playing music for some of the rescued animals who live at Farm Sanctuary. Have you ever wondered why?
Well, just like humans, farmed animals like music, which can even help improve their well-being.
Research shows that music can reduce stress in farmed animals in the severely intensive environments of animal agriculture. But at sanctuary, it is so much more. Music can enrich animals’ lives, helping them adjust to their environment and forming connections between our residents and caregivers.
“It’s important to offer enrichment that our residents can interact with using all of their senses, particularly if one of their senses is impaired or their environment may not naturally offer them these experiences,” says Kayla Perry, Sanctuary Animal Welfare Coordinator. “Music is a great way to provide audible enrichment! We even see our residents have preferred music styles as they’ll sit closer to a CD player when certain songs play!”
Below, meet two of our rescued residents who have benefitted from music therapy.
Music helps us remind Biscuit, who is blind, that he’s safe and not alone. Biscuit was once found terrified in a barn after his mom and brother were sold, leaving him all by himself. Biscuit feels more comfortable with humans in his space when we play music. It has helped him build a bond with us, including caregiver Taylor, who is playing for him below. These days, Biscuit’s best friend, Pippa sheep, is often right by his side during his weekly music therapy.
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Sometimes, music can provide comfort in an animal’s final days. Cornish Cross chickens like Baklava—who came to us three years after a tornado swept through a factory farm—are the most common breed raised for meat in the U.S., and most are slaughtered at just 8-10 weeks old. When Baklava neared the end of her life, enrichments like snacks and TV time helped keep her at ease, and she loved her guitar sessions with Luke.
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Sometimes, we’re lucky enough to have special guests visit Farm Sanctuary to share their music with the animals. Below, hear composer and violinist Katie Jacoby play for the residents of our New York sanctuary.
Providing sanctuary to farmed animals is not just about rescuing them from cruel factory farms or slaughterhouses. It also means providing them with the best and most natural lives possible. The species-appropriate enrichment we offer our rescued residents helps support their natural behaviors and cognitive and emotional well-being. Learn more below, and find out how you can support this work.
