Cow comfort essential to yield potential

Cow comfort essential to yield potential
07/10/2008 08:00:00
FWi



There has been much written recently - and rightly so - about the importance of cow comfort. Winter is on the whole a period of total confinement for the herd, restricting some of the freedoms cows enjoy at summer pasture.

So now is the moment, before they come in, to consider cows' daily needs, the most important of which is the need to lie and ruminate for between 12 and 14 hours a day.

Cows that lay for this period are healthier and more productive, while an uncomfortable cow will lie less and stand more. However, there are two constraints on lying time. One is enough actual time with in a 24-hour period to lie down, and the other is the comfort of their environment or cubicles.

Time

Milking cows lead busy lives. If one takes the 14 hours out of the 24 hours in a day for lying time this leaves just 10 hours for milking, eating, drinking and socialising. It is worth considering that a cow needs six hours to feed, leaving four hours a day for milking and social activity.

The best way of creating more time for lying is to look at ways at shortening the "turn time". (The time taken from getting cows out of the pen to milk to returning them to the pen). Really, this needs to be done within one-and-a-half hours to allow ample time for the cows' other needs.

Measures such as using a backing gate, getting individual groups in for milking one at a time, ensuring pen scraping and feeding is done during milking so as not to hold up the return of cows and not leaving cows to stand for half an hour for the teat canal to close before access to the pens all help to cut the turn time.

The other period that can be made more efficient is the time cows need to feed. Shorter feeding times allow cows to lie for longer. By creating the correct feed bunk environment, such as space a cow (60cm a cow), trough height, foot and neck rail comfort and well mixed ad-lib TMR all help to shorten the time at the trough.

There has been recent interest in the use of rubberised flooring at the feed trough which not only encourages feed intakes, but also decreases lameness. However, drawbacks include preference of the rubberised surface by dominant cows, resulting in bullying, and cows lying on the rubberised flooring instead of cubicles.

Environment

Cows like an environment which is dry, clean, well-bedded and airy, with enough sure-footed loafing space for behavioural needs, such as social interaction and bulling expression. Straw yards provide the optimal winter housing, but are expensive to maintain and predispose to mastitis and cell count problems, which account for their declining use.

It is fair to say cubicles of the wrong dimensions and insufficient bedding have a profound effect on decreasing lying time, resulting in increased lameness, mastitis and weight loss, with subsequent knock-on effects on milk yield and fertility. A rough rule of thumb is that cubicles should be 1.2m wide and 2.2m long, with a further 1m of lunge space in front.

Research trials which have given cows different options have shown they prefer cubicles with neck rails sufficiently far in front to allow them to stand with all four feet on the cubicle and without brisket boards or, when brisket boards are used, they are to be no greater than 15cm in height.

Sand and well-bedded mattresses are chosen in preference to mats. An interesting study recently showed cows will lie an average of 13 minutes less a day for every inch of sand lower than the standard 8in depth and also, given the choice between damp bedding and dry, they will choose dry bedding. Studies have also shown lying time reduces with increased stocking density. Therefore, current guidelines are for 10% more cubicles than cows.

The best advice this winter is to make time to just observe cows in their sheds, paying close attention to health issues such as lameness, hock lesions and cubicle occupancy. After all, a "comfortable" cow will be a more productive cow, as she will be healthier, get in calf quicker and produce more milk.

SOURCE: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/10/07/112485/cow-comfort-essential-to-yield-potential.html

Interesting article on Cow Comfort

Cow comfort is key to lower cull rates

Livestock | 29 August, 2008 -

SOURCE: http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=29&storycode=20960&c=1

Shropshire-based P&L AgriConsulting used Liverpool University’s new dairy buildings at Wood Park Farm – part of its Leahurst Veterinary Field Station near Neston, Wirral – for a dairy open day and workshop.

FAILURE to pay close attention to the needs of the cow when building new or modernising existing farm buildings would result in lost milk production, said P&L consultant, Adrian Caine.

He said lack of attention to cow comfort generated stress and related problems in cows resulted in increased culling rates in a herd. With the relatively high cost of a dairy cow and the low value of the cull cow, dairy farmers simply could not afford to have high culling rates within their herds.

The height and position of rails in cubicles and in feed barriers were a case in point. Farmers should look at the back of the cow's neck. If the neck was shiny from rubbing against a rail then she was being discouraged from eating at the barrier and/or lying comfortably in her cubicle.

Compromise

There would always be an element of compromise, but every effort should be made to adjust the height and position of the rails causing problems. For instance, it was clear the rail along the feed barrier in the new housing at Wood Park Farm was poorly positioned and would have to be modified.

In theory it should be brought forward, allowing better access to the feed, however, experience on another farm had shown that where a similar bar had been brought forward it had solved the problem of rubbing, but created a new problem of allowing the cows to tread on their feed, said Mr Caine.

Each supplier had their own ideas of the correct dimensions for cubicles, and here, if the neck rail was too far back, it would encourage cows to 'perch' with their fore feet in the cubicle and their rear feet in the walk-way. With the rear feet constantly in damp conditions, including slurry, this inevitably led to foot problems.

It also discouraged cows from lying in their cubicles. This was the period when the cows were producing milk and failure to lie down for sufficient time could easily result in the loss of 1 litre of milk per cow per day, said Mr Caine.

Open plan

The large open plan building at Leahurst was also important in allowing the cows to socialise and to give them the feeling of having escape routes should they need them, he said.

With cows housed throughout the year it is important that the temperature in the shed should not become too hot. The Leahurst design incorporated slotted roofs and in conjunction with open sides, this gave a chimney effect drawing air out of the building, he said.

Anyone who had doubts about ventilation in a building should go to a plumber's merchants and buy some smoke pellets which, when lit, would show the movement of air within a building. It was important that the request should be for smoke pellets and not smoke bombs as the latter request could result in the police arriving, he joked.

Light levels

Light was another factor with lighting time to simulate day length and natural light around April and May. Light levels affected blood sugar levels in animals and in the dairy cow this meant milk production. Light levels in the Leahurst shed were around the 300-400 lux level. It was equally important that the cows should also have a dark period, said Mr Caine.

Comfortable cows produce

It was nice to see the following article highlighting the importance of Cow Comfort. The first picture is a Wilson Agriculture installed unit of Comfort Zones:



From: http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=29&storycode=19883&c=1

Livestock | 11 July, 2008

By Katie Lomas

Vets and dairy farmers met for the Large Dairy Herd Seminar organised by Lillico Atlee and the Evidence Based Veterinary Consultancy.

FARMERS needed to focus on cow comfort as a way to both assure consumers that animals were being treated correctly and to optimise productivity.

That was according to Jon Huxley, associate professor of farm animal medicine at Nottingham University, who argued the behaviour of dairy herds needed to be monitored, especially the time cows spent standing.

He said increased standing time, especially on concrete, raised the incidence of lameness and therefore effected yield.

Credit: © FARMERS GUARDIAN please contact 01772 799445.

A good cubicle design will ensure dairy cows spend as much time as possible lying down, thus taking the pressure off their feet.

Every effort should be made to encourage dairy cattle to lie down when not eating, drinking or being milked, he said. This should include ensuring cubicle size was sufficient, the lying surface was as comfortable as possible and the building was designed in such a way as to encourage lying down.

Mr Huxley said that when cattle stood up in the field they used a ‘pendulum effect’ to raise themselves up. “If you have housing right they can replicate this movement in the cubicles,” he said, arguing that if cows found it difficult to get into a standing position in the, they would ‘just stop lying down altogether’.

He also urged dairy farmers to consider using sand in cubicles. According to Mr Huxley groups of cows operated within a social hierarchy. ‘Dominant’ cows would do well, ‘bully’ ‘subordinate’ cows at the feed fence and water troughs and enter the milking parlour first. This, he said, meant subordinate animals spent more time standing, increasing the susceptibility to lameness and lowering productivity.

Credit: © FARMERS GUARDIAN please contact 01772 799445.

To maximise dry matter intake dairy cattle need plenty of room at the feed fence. This should be 0.8metres per cow, says Prof Huxley.

This could be eased by putting rubber matting down in areas where cows spend considerable time standing, ensuring there was sufficient feed and water trough space for all animals and creating a ‘circular flow’ in buildings so subordinates could keep out of the way of dominant animals.

The social hierarchy also meant that mixing groups would be problematic, as the group would have to re-adjust and each cow would spend time assessing where they were in the social hierarchy of the new group.

“Mixing groups is not good for yield,” he said. “It can lead to a 3 to 5 per cent reduction in yields. The cows are going around the group instead of eating.”

Staff management in large herds

Dairy farmers on opposite sides of the Atlantic face different challenges but have similar solutions.

• John Gilliland, from Florida, is the dairy operations manager for McArthur Farms, a dairy enterprise with four units each comprising 2,000 cows.

One of the biggest challenges he faces is ensuring the cows can cope with the sub-tropical weather conditions.

He is concerned with breeding consistent heifer replacements and ensuring he has healthy cows. He said staff management was key to success. Staff were set goals and had regular training and development, including vets coming in to give training updates and regular reviews of protocols.

“Higher levels of production require a higher level of management,” he said.

• Somerset-based Neil Christensen milks 500 Holsteins in Glastonbury.

He said one of his biggest challenges was fitting his business around Glastonbury Festival, which takes up 400 acres of his land. Other challenges were low prices compared to high input costs but, like Mr Gilliland, he saw the people behind the business as the most important part of the enterprise.

He said he wanted to ‘manage people effectively to satisfy the business needs and their personal needs’ and also holds regular training sessions and encourages good communication amongst his work force.

A recent installation

Here are some pictures of a recent installation in Shropshire, UK.
This is a 270 Comfort Zone unit, all with 16ft head to head cubicles.

Mentioned in the Farmers Guardian

Our brief editorial has also been covered in the Farmers Guardian today.

To view the online digital version of the paper follow this link:
http://cde.cerosmedia.com/Agriculture-s-national-newspaper/1B482c0221af353788.cde
(We are on page 87 'Product news in brief')

More mentions of our DVD

The editorial on our new DVD has been published in the British Dairying Magazine (May 2008) edition today. Here is a copy of exactly what is says:

"Free cubicle DVD



Cubicle specialists, Wilson Agriculture, have launched a DVD which gives an overview of what to look for when considering cubicle housing for your dairy cows.

It offers advice on how to improve cow comfort and housing conditions as a means of maximizing production and covvers all aspects of housing and cubicle installation. including advice on post mounted, floor mounted bolt down, and rail mounted cubicles.

It also highlights the results of time-lapse video research comparing different sorts of cubicles.


Ivor Davey, Sales Development Manager for Wilson Agriculture said: “ We consider it essential that producers realize there is so much more to a cubicle than just a bent bit of metal.

We also encourage farmers to watch their cows to enable them to supply a housing system which matches the cows requirements."


The DVD is available free by visiting www.wilsonagri.co.uk (tel 02870 868430)."

Wilson Agriculture Dairy Housing DVD

Our new DVD was mentioned in the Cow Management Magazine
- April 2008 edition -

Dairy housing DVD

Cubicle specialists, Wilson Agriculture, have launched a free DVD which gives an overview of what to look for when installing or upgrading cubicle housing.

It offers advice on how to improve cow comfort and housing conditions to help maximise production and covers all aspects of housing and cubicle installation.

There's also advice on post mounted cubicles; floor mounted bolt down cubicles; and rail mounted cubicles and the DVD highlights the results of time-lapse video research comparing different sorts of cubicles.

The DVD is available free by visiting Wilson Agriculture's website at www.wilsonagri.co.uk or by telephoning 02870 868430.

Brynhyfryd Holsteins - well done

Michael and Rowland George are some of Wilson Agricultures past customers. We were pleased to read this article about them in the Farmers Guardian:

Brothers made Associates at the same time

Livestock News | 12 March, 2008

BROTHERS Michael and Rowland George have achieved the unusual distinction of both being made Associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies at the same time.

They have been recognised for their work in improving and maximising the potential of the black-and-white dairy cow, in particular their highly-bred pedigree Brynhyfryd Holsteins.

They farm 1,000 acres at Sealyham Farm, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and the herd has been developed into two units of 300 cows each.

The cows are among the highest classified in the breed, being visited by producers and agricultural students from across the UK.

The brothers have also encouraged and trained many YFC teams for stockjudging competitions and have passed to others their knowledge and skills of cattle showmanship.

They are both on Holstein UK’s panel of judges.

New 2008 UK adverts

4NI.co.uk article from last year:

SOURCE: http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=64669

Wilson Agriculture Expands In Coleraine

Wilson Agriculture (Wilson Agri), a Coleraine based manufacturer of dairy cow comfort products have announced a new £275,000 expansion plan. The expansion, which will increase export sales was announced today by Andrew Wilson, the company’s Managing Director and is being supported by Invest NI. The investment is expected to provide four new jobs by the end of next year and will see the company develop its first range of equine comfort products for a market opportunity it has identified. Mr Wilson, outlining the expansion plan, said: ”We manufacture and supply a range of branded products, including special stalls, mats and pillows, that help farmers to increase milk production by improving comfort and safety for dairy cows. Dairy farmers everywhere are now facing intense pressure on margins and are recognising increasingly that yields rise significantly when their animals are housed in conditions that enable them to lie down safely and prevent potentially very costly conditions such as lameness and mastitis.” Established in 1999, Wilson Agri is a family run business with its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Coleraine and an office in Bristol. Its main products are established brands such as Pasture Mats, Poly Pillow and stall cubicles. It exports over 60 per cent of its cow comfort products to customers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Mr Wilson added: “As a result, demand for the cow pillows and mats that we have developed for farmers over many years is growing steadily. This investment includes substantial expenditure on marketing, assisted by Invest NI that will enable us to take advantage of new business opportunities, particularly in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. "The investment will also enable us to diversify our portfolio by introducing a new product, Stable Comfort, aimed at the vast equestrian marketplace that builds on our experience in, and knowledge of, the dairy sector. "There are over two million horses in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, each requiring six mats.” The company currently employs six people.

bbc.co.uk article from last year

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6956875.stm

Pampered cows get good night's sleep

A good night's sleep may be a recipe for happy and healthy life, but an NI company is adopting the same creature comforts for cows.

Frazzled bovines down on the farm can now look forward to taking to their 'cow beds' at the end of a stressful day in the fields.

Wilson Agriculture in Coleraine has been given a government grant to support its production of Pasture Mats and Poly Pillows to ease the lives of cows forced to lie on uncomfortable concrete floors.

The £45 mattresses are said to help the contented cows produce more milk.

Wilson's is also developing stable comfort mattresses for horses and a £21,000 grant from Invest Northern Ireland will be used on research which may ultimately improve the quality of life for farm animals.

The company's Evelyn Wilson said cow mattresses gained favour in northern latitudes, where cattle spend so much time in barns.

It imported mattresses from Canada for 12 years, but has started to make its own.

"If you lie in a comfortable bed all night you'll be in good form all day. It's the same for cows," said Ms Wilson.

"They are like beanbags covered with closely knitted army blankets," she said. "The insides are made of rubber crumbs from old car tyres.

"Cows spend more time inside than they used to. These mattresses stop cows injuring themselves when they go down on their knees. Animals are not stupid. They love them."

However, animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming cautioned against keeping cattle indoors permanently and not going out to pasture.

"Living indoors too much can increase lameness," said a spokesman.

Well done Andrew McKellar

Andrew McKellar has had our cubicles, Pasture Mats and Poly Pillow installed for his cows for over 5 years. His cows have done very well at some shows lately:

British Holstein takes prize in Spain

Livestock News | 9 October, 2007

A BRITISH-BRED Holstein has won a major prize at a Spanish agricultural show, one of the biggest events in Europe for black and white dairy cows.

The junior champion at the event in Astutias, northern Spain, was Drointon Journalist Sara from Andrew McKellar’s Drointon herd in Staffordshire.

Having won the calf championship at 2007 National Holstein Show, she was purchased by Quim Serabbassa and Casa Regalao at Carlisle earlier this year. In the same sale Drointon sold another calf, which stood second in the summer yearling class at Astutias, to the same partnership.

Grand champion at the show went to Gualdi Lee Sedia, a Comestar Lee daughter from Italy. Reserve went to DB Claire – a Regancrest Emory Derry daughter – from France. Both the champion and reserve were owned by Casa Regalao.