VANCOUVER -- About a dozen cows in BC's Frasery Valley were treated to some udderly delightful melodies Tuesday as classically trained musicians performed Mozart numbers in a bid to relax the bovines and increase their milk production.

The performance at Valedoorn Farm in Agassiz, BC, heralded Wednesday's launch of the Music Makes More Milk competition, which challenges British Columbians to hit the bull's eye when composing songs favourable to cows.

"Farmers have always known that a relaxed cow will produce more milk and often times when they're milking, they'll have the radio on or they'll play their favourite tune," BC Dairy Association spokesman Marcus Wong said.

Although public voting will determine the top 15 finalists, cows at a BC dairy farm will let their udders do the judging for the ultimate winner. Whichever songs elicits the most milk production will be crowned champion.

The winning songwriter, who will have to create the cow ditties using a free composition tool available at MusicMakesMoreMilk.com, will earn a trip to next year's Grammy awards in Los Angeles, CA.

Wong, who has previously milked the Valedoorn cows to the sound of soothing radio tunes, said it was the first time those particular bovines got to experience a live orchestral performance.

He advises musicians to stay away from heavy metal renditions and "put yourself in the mindset of a cow and what a cow would love to listen to, and compose your heart out."