You may have heard of Mooving Cows by tuning in to our podcast or reading our blog on game-based learning and agriculture, but whether you’re familiar with our client UW-Madison’s animal-handling simulation game or not, there’s a lot of new things to be said about its success!
In case you didn’t know, Mooving Cows is a 3D isometric mobile game that’s changing the way dairy farm employees understand and interact with cattle. In the game, players step into the shoes, or rather, boots of a cow mover, navigating various scenarios on the dairy farm, all while learning the intricacies of reducing cow stress and maintaining their milk yield. Here’s a spotlight on all the exciting news surrounding Mooving Cows so far – let’s go!
via Giphy
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Press Coverage: Have You Herd?
Mooving Cows has been mentioned across various popular press outlets, all of which note its innovative approach to animal handling education. From the UW-Madison CALS News to the Wisconsin State Journal, the game has captured the attention of farmers, educators, and agricultural enthusiasts alike. With features on Wisconsin Public Radio and the WORT-FM Friday Eight O’Clock Buzz, Mooving Cows has generated a lot of buzz – particularly in our home state of Wisconsin (which just makes sense). 🧀
The game has also been covered by several agricultural publications, such as the Mid-West Farm Report, the RumiNation Podcast, Feed & Grain, and Hoard’s Dairyman Intel. The latter publication, praising Mooving Cows novel approach, rightfully points out that “…cow sense, and ultimately understanding how a cow perceives her environment, is the very core of animal welfare. After all, if we cannot calmly move cows in a safe manner, not much else matters on the farm.”
User Testimonials: Udderly Impressive Reviews
Since its public release of the 2.0 version of the game on January 23, 2024, Mooving Cows has garnered rave reviews from dairy farmers, trainers, and industry professionals alike. Some users have even personally emailed Jennifer Van Os, an assistant professor and extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to share their positive feedback. Check out a sampling of these reviews and messages below:
“This is a great move forward for animal handling education. Great little game. Definitely hope to see some more features and levels added to further expand on its foundation going forward.” – Google Play Review
“THIS.IS.AWESOME! I know it was a long time in the making… Very cool. Can’t wait to share with our teams!” – Wisconsin Dairy Farmer
“I will definitely use it in my classes with my students. I think it’s a great tool that will add great value.” – Canadian dairy herdsperson apprenticeship program coordinator
“I read an article last year about your goal of releasing the training platform Mooving Cows and have been eagerly awaiting its release since. I was finally able to sit down with it today and I was quite impressed by the novel approach to an issue that is all too often overlooked. Thank you so much for your work to get this app created.” – Canadian farm safety consultant
“Congratulations on making a simulation which I think has a good chance of improving handling skills, especially for a novice… I’m excited to get it into the hands of students and others.” – Canadian veterinary school professor
“My colleagues and I are very interested in moving forward with using the Mooving Cows program in a project looking to see if we can increase comfort and confidence in our students.” – Virginia animal science professor
As you can tell, it’s not only Wisconsin agriculturists who are singing the praises of the game! Mooving Cows is leaving a lasting impression on users seeking new, research-backed solutions for animal handling education.
Analytics: Numbers that Stampede Ahead
With 1,370 downloads in just two weeks after its release (957 downloads on the Apple App Store and 413 on Google Play), Mooving Cows has reached players in 51 different countries worldwide. Achieving average user ratings of 4.5 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play, the game’s success speaks volumes about its impact on agricultural communities.
Program Evaluation and Stakeholder Interest: Driving Educational Innovation
Our client, UW-Madison, conducted a program evaluation of Version 1.0 of Mooving Cows in April 2023, and this evaluation revealed promising results among Wisconsin dairy farm employees. After playing the game, participants reported increased knowledge and confidence in handling dairy cows. With a median response of 4 out of 5 for questions about the game’s enjoyability and usefulness, evidence collected so far proves that Mooving Cows is a valuable and reliable tool for animal handling education.
In fact, during the game’s development, over 40 inquiries poured in from dairy farmers, veterinarians, professors, and industry experts expressing interest in utilizing Mooving Cows in their training programs and educational initiatives. This widespread stakeholder interest underscores the game’s potential to give animal handling practices and educational methodologies a digital upgrade.
Mooving Towards a Bright Future
From testimonials to data, Mooving Cows is a shining example of game-based learning’s ability to foster player knowledge and engagement. This game is already making a positive impact on dairy farmers honing their skills as well as agricultural educators enhancing their training programs. It’s paving the way towards a brighter future for animal handling education, one (virtual) cow at a time! 🐮✨
Join the game-based learning moovement today – we’re here to help you make your idea for an educational game a reality. Send us a message!
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