Housing systems for dairy cows

Question 1

Cows housing must deliver the 5 freedoms =…

Answer 1

1. Freedom from hunger + thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain / injury / disease
4. Freedom to express natural behaviour
5. Freedom from fear + distress

Question 2

How much lunge space do cows need?

Answer 2

0.7 - 1.0m

Question 3

What are benefits of open buildings?

Answer 3

• Daylight + ventilation

Question 4

What are basic needs in cow housing?

Answer 4

• Lying area - loose housed straw / cubicles
• Loafing area - natural interactions + oestrus behaviour, 120% of cubicle area must be loafing
• Feed space - 60cm per milking cow, 90cm per dry cow
• Safe flooring + passageways - reduce injury risk, encourage mounting, uphill + into light
• Water supply - 10cm / cow, diurnal pattern (drink more in morning + post milking)
• Slurry handling - increase health by minimising slurry contact

Question 5

What’s the benefits of loose housing (straw +/- sand)?

Answer 5

• Comfortable - reduced lameness

Question 6

What’s the disadvantages of loose housing (straw +/- sand)?

Answer 6

• Expensive - straw use
• Wet + warm = increased environmental mastitis risk

Question 7

What does it indicate if a cow reverses into a cubicle?

Answer 7

• Too high a kerb as cows dislike reversing down a steep step - prefer to reverse upwards

Question 8

What does it indicate if a cow is standing with hind feet in passage and forefeet in cubicle?

Answer 8

Head rail too near kerb, causing cows to bang head when rising from cubicle, so they learn not to lie in it in the first place

Question 9

What does cow lying diagonally didicate?

Answer 9

• Cubicle too wide = dunging in cubicle

Question 10

What are other behavioural observations?

Answer 10

• Too far forward
• Overhanging the kerb
• Half in half out
• Dog sitting
• Lying in the passageway

Question 11

What does it indicate if cows have calluses or hair loss along spine?

Answer 11

• Insufficient lower rail height

Question 12

What does hock lesions indicate?

Answer 12

• Insufficient substrate / bedding - poor quality shavings

Question 13

What are consequences of poor cubicle use?

Answer 13

• Solar ulcers
• Heel horn erosion - digi
• Increased environmental mastitis

Question 14

What are different options for bedding?

Answer 14

• Sand
• Rubber Mats
• Mattresses
• Paper
• Deep Straw - strep uberis
• Green bedding - recycled manure solids

Question 15

What should lighting be in a dairy shed?

Answer 15

• 16-18hrs a day (160-200lux)