powerpoint presentation comfort.pdf · current stall divider design . 2/6/2019 3 ... sand is very...

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• Cow Comfort Opportunity to Promote

Great Nutrition - Milk

Freestall Cow Comfort: Are We Getting

the Job Done?

Mark Hardesty, DVM, MS

Cows Lying Comfortably

For How Many Hours?

I Involvement Opportunity

Before Build

Cows Lying Comfortably

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Freestall Dimensions

Stalls Should Fit Cows !

• Body Stall Resting Total Neck Rail

• Wgt Width Length Length Height

• 800 36 52 6’ 1” 37

• 1000 40 57 6’ 9” 40

• 1200 44 61 7’ 6” 43

• 1400 47 66 8’ 2” 45

• 1500 Hol 48 68 8” 6” 46

• 1600 51 70 8’ 10” 48

• 1800 54 75 9’ 6” 51

Comfort While Rising

Cows Lunge Pretty Far

Open Freestalls

Current Stall Divider Design

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Added Outside Lunge

“Dog Housing”

Neck Rail Placement

Tire Brisket Barrier

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New Technologies

• Separated Manure Solids Have Challenges

and Potential. Deep beds are difficult to keep

dry.

• Mattresses continue to improve cushion, grip,

and less abrasive surfaces

• Waterbeds may be gaining in popularity, some

have been very happy others not so much.

Mattresses & Waterbeds

Must Have Bedding

52” Wide 70 Long

Sand Bedding $2/cwt

Advantage

Sand Is Very Forgiving Bedding Sand Lane & Dewatering Floor Designs

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Flumes for Sand 3%

Clean Water

Compacted Sand is

Co Contaminated Sand

Stalls Dug Out

Comfort While Eating

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Top Tilted

Neck Rail Comfort

Glazed Tile in Feed Table

Bunk Comfort Doesn’t Matter When Empty

Medial Claw Rotation Walking, Standing, Mounting

Non-Skid, Non Abrasive Surface

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Rubber Flooring: Holding Pens and Travel

Lanes Not at Feed Bunks Hoof Overgrowth Foot Baths

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Milking Parlor Comfort

Hospital Pens Needed - Every Dairy Every Day

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Let’s Talk About Housing Density

Prefresh, Postfresh, Breeding, Pregnant

Crossovers

Waiting Cows Handling in Pens

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Facilities Determine Productivity

How does the dairy flow?

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