Brazilian farmers are rushing to buy a pig-feeding robot that plays classical music to the animals while dispensing meals.
Orders for the robot have soared, as farmers in Brazil seek to cut costs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports.
The robot uses linear feeders that allow the animals, which are divided in pens, to receive the exact amount of feed needed for each meal. And, in order to reduce stress for the pigs, classical music is played.
The company that sells the robots, Roboagro, told Reuters orders had risen by an average of 400 percent, to 60 units per month.
Giovani Molin, the company's director, said the robot reduces the presence of humans on pig farms and also generates data that helps improve overall herd management.
He told Reuters by using the robot, farmers can save an estimated 40,000 reais (NZ$11,000) per year per batch of 1000 animals.
The robot is used in around 500 farms in Brazil, according to the company.
