We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Cubicle design is key to better yields
Ahead of two Dairy Efficiency seminars being held next month, FG meets one of the international speakers who will present his ideas on improving dairy businesses.
BADLY designed dairy cow cubicles with uncomfortable or no bedding materials are two factors limiting production in many UK dairy herds, according to Chris Keane of Canadian firm Promat.
The average dairy cow needs to lie down for around 14 hours each day to maximise milk production, he says, but most only achieve eight to nine hours. This is largely due to a lack of comfort and consideration of the animal’s needs.
Research shows cows given full freedom of movement will lunge forward for a distance of around 60cm when they get up from a lying position. However, standard front partitions prevent this natural behaviour, which can lead to injuries, caused by the cow repeatedly bumping against metal.
The transferral of weight on rising is also affected, putting increased pressure on the back feet. Mr Keane believes failure to address these issues compromises milk yield and reduces longevity.
“Cubicles should be built around the cow,” he says. “Most designs incorporate a horizontal bar which faces the cow’s head. This has no real function, other than to hamper movement when the cow gets up.”
He says most existing cubicle layouts can be corrected with minimal outlay: “Altering cubicles to increase cow comfort often means removing steel bars, rather than adding extra metal. The size difference within dairy cow types means cubicles should be tailored to suit individual herds.”
Uncomfortable bedding surfaces can discourage cows from lying down for the optimum length of time, says Mr Keane, recommending rubber mats at least 5cm thick to encourage longer resting periods.
“The impact of an animal weighing 600-700kg landing on a hard concrete floor is considerable,” he says. “It is important to provide a surface mattress, which will act as a shock absorber. Rubber is ideal as it is inert, so bacteria cannot grow on its surface.
“A matress will greatly reduce the risk of injury, but should be used in conjunction with good cubicle design. This combination will ensure manure falls into the passageway, rather than contaminating the mat.”
Dairy Efficiency seminars
The Dairy Efficiency seminars, organised by Wilson Agriculture and supported by Farmers Guardian, provide an opportunity to meet dairy advisors from leading international companies and get the latest advice on driving efficiency in business.
There will be a chance to discuss current practices with some of the leading minds in the industry and see presentations from dairy engineers, designers and other industry experts about the latest cutting edge equipment, new facility trends as well as tried and tested industry favourites.
The seminars will cover a range of topics:
- Cow comfort solutions
- Designing the optimum parlour
- Cattle sorting and handling
- Waste removal and utilisation
- Housing layout and design
- Bedding systems
- Ventilation systems
- Feeding optimisation
- Cattle traffic
Dates
- Tuesday, April 13 at Greenmount Campus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (30-minute drive from Belfast)
- Thursday, April 15 at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire
Registration
For more details and to sign up for a place call 02870 868 430.
Speakers at the seminars
Chris Keane of Promat has focused on cow comfort and ergonomics for the last decade. He will be joined at the Dairy Efficiency seminars by:
- John DeJonge of Artex Barn Solutions - a dairy farmer who runs a manufacturing company specialising in cow cubicles. He is a dairy consultant and has recently spent a lot of time in China.
- Donald Gribble of Five G Consulting - a designer of USA and Canadian greenfield sites from several hundred to several thousand cows. He specialises in design, working with contractors and local planning authorities, automation and equipment.
- John MacFazdean of Sun-North Systems travels globally, talking to livestock producers about new technology and ventilation systems in a variety of different climates.
- Ian Ohnstad of the Dairy Group is the only UK speaker at the seminars. A leading consultant in the UK, he visits the USA, Australia, Africa, New Zealand and Japan to offer independent advice on parlour specification and operation, hygiene, mastitis control and building design.
