FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT

In a previous article, Nigel Cook discussed the impact of inadequate rest on cows and stall surfaces. Click here to read the first part. This article will review some specifics in freestall design.

In this article, I will attempt to summarize the aspects of freestall design that are failing the cow and justify the solutions we have found and the current trends emerging in the dairy industry of the Upper Midwest. The challenge presented is to find the balance between excellent cow comfort and manageable cow cleanliness.

Finding labour in Saskatchewan was becoming harder and harder for dairyman Wes Cairns. He decided to take matters into his own hands and control the labour needed for milking his 120 cows.

I recently received a question by telephone about rubber flooring and what it does for the animal. I would like to share this conversation with you – from a hoof trimmer’s perspective.

I have to admit that it is a subject with differing opinions, environments, climates and you name it, and that I certainly do not have all the answers to the flooring options available.

A power winch is one of those farm tools that’s handy to have around, especially if you like off-road driving, want to drag pallets or need to pull out a piece of equipment stuck in the mud. Here are a few ins and outs of buying a winch for your four-wheel-drive truck.

Technology. Innovation. Modernization. Change. Are these “scary” words for you?

As dairy producers, I’m sure you hear and read about all the new and innovative technologies available to you that will help improve profits, safety and time. But how many of these changes will truly generate a return on your investment?

The following is the first part of a two-part series of articles regarding freestall design and its impact on the cow’s comfort and health.

The dairy expansion era in North America, which gathered pace throughout the 1990’s and continues to this day, has resulted in the migration of dairy cattle from traditional tiestall and stanchion barns to the freestall facility, which has emerged as the dominant form of dairy cattle housing worldwide.