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Maximizing Cow Comfort“Time to consider your cow’s life”
David W. KammelBiological Systems Engineering
UW Madison
Cow ComfortHousing System Design which:
– Protects the cow from severe environmental conditions
– Provides adequate space for resting, eating, drinking, and walking
– Limits the likelihood of injury and/or disease– Considers all the cows in the herd
• (especially the subordinate cows)
Cow ComfortConsider how you can influence
Facility design decisionsFacility changesManagement practices
……..to achieve Cow Comfort
Cow BehaviorPen stocking rate
• Increased stocking rate from 100-150%lying times were reducedcows spent more time standing outside the stallcows lay down more quickly after milkingincreased stall displacementOver 120% increased negative affects on cowsAt 130% stocking rate cows preferred using a freestallrather than eat post milking
Batchelder (2000)
Cow BehaviorGrouping
Grouping strategy affects resting behavior• Dominate cows(typically older) affect behavior of
subordinate cows (typically younger)
• Dominate cows displace subordinate cows for rest, water, and feed space
• Movement of subordinate cows is affected by location of dominant cows
Cow BehaviorGrouping
• Maximize time period in group for social stability
• Takes 5-15 days to reach baseline after commingling or regrouping
• Especially important in transition cows and freshening pen design
• Overstocking creates additional stress
(Boe and Faerevik, 2003)
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Dairy Cow Daily Time BudgetGrazing versus Free Stall System
Dairy Cow Daily Time BudgetFreestall Housing
14.1
0.51.1
5.5
0.32.5
11.8
1.42.2
5.5
0.42.7
02468
1012141618202224
Dai
ly A
ctiv
ity(H
ours
per
Day
)
Top 10% Cows Average Cows
MilkingDrinkingEatingStanding in AlleyPerching in StallResting
Rick Grant Miner Institute, Matzke 2003
Cow BehaviorRest or eat
Cows have a strong motivation to restWhen both resting and feed are restricted cows will choose to?
a. rest rather than eatb. eat rather than rest
Cow BehaviorResting Space
Prefer slightly to lay down longer on open bedded pen over freestall
Prefer to stand on open bedded pen surface over freestall bed
(Fregonesi, 2009)
Bedded Pen Resting Space
Bedding Quantity25-35 lb/ bedding /cow/day
Bedded Pen Resting Space
Resting Space Area- 80-100 square feet/ cow minimum
Bedding depth more than- 6” deep
Groomed/tilled to aerate and dry surface
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Bob LungeSpace Head Space Body Space
Neal Anderson
Freestall Resting Space Proper freestall design should providea cow with the ability to:
Stretch their front feet forwardLie on their sides, with unobstructed space for neck and headRest head against their sides without hindrance from a partitionRest with legs, udders, and tails on platformStand or lie without fear or pain from neck rails, partitions, or supportsRest on clean, dry, and comfortable bedding
(Anderson, 2002)
LungeandBobSpace
Wall
Alley
HeadSpace
Body Space
NeckRail
BrisketLocator
Curb
Freestall Resting Space
More restrictive stall designs are less attractive to cow
Neck rail position importantMoved neck rail away from curb 51 inches to 74 inches(49 inches above stall surface)• Lying time did not change – 12.3 hours per day• Cows spent more time standing with all 4 hooves in stall• Cows more likely to defecate and urinate in stall• Dirtier udders and more stall cleaning time
Cow BehaviorStall Design
(Fregonesi, Bernardi 2008)
Stall divider spacing• Cows lay down longer in wider stalls
Brisket locator• Cows spend more time lying in stalls without brisket
locator• When given a choice cows spend more time in stalls
without brisket locator
Cow BehaviorStall Design
(Tucker, Weary 2003)
Little CowBig Cow
Proper Freestall Size
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Stall Dimension (inches) Body Weight Estimate (lbs)1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Total stall length facing a wall (A) 96 96 108 120 120
Curb to curb distance for head-to-head platform 192 192 204 204 216
Distance from rear curb to brisket locator (B) 64 66 68 70 72
Center-to-center stall divider placement (Stall width) (C) 44 46 48 50 54
Height of brisket locator above stall surface (D) 3 3 4 4 4
Height of upper edge of bottom divider rail above stall surface (E) 11 11 12 12 12
Height below neck rail (F) 44 46 48 50 52
Horizontal distance between rear edge of neck rail and rear curb for mattress stalls (G) 64 66 68 70 72
Horizontal distance between rear edge of neck rail and rear curb for deep loose bedded stalls (G=B-I) 58 60 62 64 66
Rear curb height (H) 8 8 8 8 8Rear curb width (loose bedded stalls) (I) 6 6 6 6 6
Freestall Dimensions
Dairyland Initiative Website
Sand FS Design
A
B
DE
F
G
HI
Good Standing Position
Good Free Stall Design and Management Crumb Rubber Mattress
Gel Mattress
Multi-layer Mat
Waterbed Mattress
Adequate Sand Base
Stall Loop Divider
Adequate Neck Rail Height
Low Brisket Locator
Good Free Stall Design and Management
CurbGood Lying Position
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Neal Anderson
Cushion of 4-6 inchesClean and dryMinimizes ability to harbor and/or promote growth of mastitis organismsMinimizes potential for:
SlippingHock abrasion and swelling
Manure handling implications
Free Stall Resting Surface
Cows prefer more bedding (cushion)
Cows reduce lying time as depth of sand decreases
Cows lie longer in deep bedded stalls
Cow BehaviorFreestall Bedding Quantity
(Tucker 2003, 2008)
Cow preference
1. Deep bedded sawdust2. Deep bedded sand3. Mattress with sawdust
Cow BehaviorFreestall Bedding Type and Quality
(Tucker Weary 2003)
Cows prefer dry versus wet bedding
• Lie longer on dry bedding as compared to wet bedding (Fregonesi 2007)
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Cow BehaviorFeeding Space
Cows have a natural aggressive feeding drive
High producing cows (older) versus low producing (younger)• Eat more feed• Eat larger meals, more quickly• Ruminate more efficiently• Drink more water more quickly
(Dado Allen, 1994)
High stocking density at the feed bunk: • Increases aggressive competition• Keeps subordinate cows away from feed
Physical barriers between cows:• Reduces competition• Increases feeding time
A cow can exert 500 pounds of force on the feed barrier
(Hansen and Pallesen, 1998)
Cow BehaviorFeeding Space
Feed Space Design
Feed platform design to encourage dry matter intake
4 feet of smooth eating surface in front of cow
Eating surface elevation 3-6 inches higherthan cow’s standing elevation
Tip out self-locks to increase feed access (hoof wear)
Offset rail to increase feed access (hoof wear)
Feed Space DesignPost and Rail
4 feet
3-6 inches
8-10 inches
Cow Side
Feed Side
21 inches
48-50 inches
Feed SpacePost and Rail
Feed Space(3 of 4)
Feed SpaceHeadlocks
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Feed SpaceFeed Stalls
Feed Space Design
24 inches space per animal typical of headlocks
30-36 inches space per animal for transition cows
If 15-18 inches space per animalFeed should always be availablePushing up feed 5-10 times/day may be needed
Cow BehaviorStanding
Cows prefer to stand on a soft surface• Deep bed organic• Rubber• Concrete
Access to dry comfortable standing area reduces risk of lameness• Time standing on concrete increases risk of
lameness• Rest period on pasture helps lame cows recover
TriviaCows walking speed is 2-3 mphCows grazing walking speed 0.5 mph
(Telezhenko, 2006)
(Hernandez, 2006)
Walking SpaceConcrete
Cross Section of grooved surface
½ inch
½ -3/4 inch
2.5-4 inches
Walking SpaceRubber
o Water consumption associated with feeding and milkingo Cows consume 30-50% of their water intake within 1 hour after
milking.o A cow can drink at a rate of 1-4 gallons/ minuteo One watering device for every 15-20 cows,
or 3-4 inches space per cowo Protect nearby
freestalls fromsplashing of water
Cow BehaviorDrinking
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Water Space(1 of 2)
– Two water locations per pen– Consider subordinate cows
Cow behaviorLighting
Long day lighting- 16 hours light- 8 hours dark- (Reverse for dry cows)
Energy efficient lamps- Metal halide- Fluorescent- LED
Proper illumination levelsProper color rendition
Cow BehaviorEnvironment
THITemperature Humidity Index
• Seek Shade (low light)• Respiration rate• Standing• Stand near water tank• Water intake• Dry matter Intake• Milk Production• Reproductive Performance
Cow Behavior (Heat Stress)Temperature and humidity
Shade• 50% blockage minimum
Air• Increase Air Velocity
over animal• 400-800 fpm velocity• Holding Pen and
Resting areaWater
• Access to water• Sprinklers to Evaporate
Water off Cows Back
Cow Cooling Design
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Sprinklers
Sprinkle the cow
High Speed Low Volume (HSLV)400-800 fpm @ 20,000-30,000 cfm
Increase velocity over cow
High Volume Low Speed (HVLS)300 fpm @ 120,000-200,000 cfm
Increase velocity over cow Cross ventilated Barns
During the transition period• healthy cows have a lower feed intake reduction than mild
or severe metritis cowsOverstocking creates additional stress• 3 row pens vs 2 row pen
• Less total space per cow• Less bunk space per cow• Less access to preferred stalls• Essentially overstocked
• Changing barn design for this group to use a 2 row pen design
Cow Behavior – Transition Cows
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Rotating Maternity Pen
4.3
m5.
0 m
5.0
m3.
0 m
2.75
m10
.75
m15.0
5 m
Headlocks
Drover Lane
W WW
Feed Lane
W W
4.5 m 4.3 m 11.0 m 11.0 m 11.2 m
Pen 2Pen 3Pen 1
HospitalPen1 cow
HospitalPen1 cow
HL HL
20.0
5 m
42.0 m
11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity
11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity
11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity
8.0
m
Cow ComfortHousing System Design which:
– Protects the cow from severe environmental conditions
– Provides adequate space for resting, eating, drinking, and walking
– Limits the likelihood of injury and/or disease– Considers all the cows in the herd
• (especially the subordinate cows)
Cow ComfortConsider how you can influence
Facility design decisionsManagement practices
……to achieve Cow Comfort
Questions?