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Keeping Your Cow’sComfortable

Dr. Andy JohnsonTotal Herd Management Services, Inc

Clintonville, Wisconsin 54929

Keseca Veterinary ClinicSpring Meeting

Why Men ShouldNEVER

Take Messagesfor Their Wives!!

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They work in parlors too!

The DifferenceBetween

Men and Women

They work in parlors too!

What If the USALost the War in

Iraq???

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They work in parlors too! They work in parlors too!

They work in parlors too! They work in parlors too!

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Don’t under estimate the importanceof the cow’s environment

Cow comfort is #1 reason forHIGH or LOW milk production

and CULL RATE!

Cow Comfort Realized

Cow Comfort and Environment

1. Increased DM intake, increased production

2. Decreased environmental mastitis

3. Increased conception

4. Decreased foot problems

The only correct answer to most questions is:

“It Depends!”

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LISTEN TO THE COW!

They always tell the truth or the real story!!

Listen To The Cows

1. Won’t enter the parlor

2. Won’t lay down in stalls

3. Swollen legs, hocks or injuries

4. Don’t like to have teats touched

Cow Friendly Environment

1. Ventilation: All Four Seasons

2. Stall design and maintenance

3. Access to feed and water

4. Skid resistant walking surface

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Legs, Do They Matter?

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Where is the leg located?

Under and next to the Udder!!

DON’T IGNORE THE ENVIRONMENT!

The environment is the key to quality milk!

Does This Manure Matter???

Low Level Mud

Mature Cow 0-10cm 1st Lactation Heifer 0-10cm

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Source Of Manure Source Of ManureMay Surprise You!

Medium Level Mud

Cows Heifers

Let’s not use weather as an EXCUSE to mismanage your dairy

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Bad Environment

Free StallDoes not mean

“Free of Maintenance”

Stall Protocol1. Udder must be on clean/dry surface

2. Every milking scrape off wet area and cover with dry bedding

3. Less than 5% stalls wet or manure

4. Clean and dry stalls have less risk to new mastitis infections

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What Are The Stalls Telling You??Less Than 5% Is The Goal!! Must scrape off manure every milking and cover

Cross Over Alleys Major Cause Of Dirty Cows

Free Stall Maintenance

MODIFIED RAKE/SCRAPER MAKES IT EASIER!

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Modified Tool For Free Stall Maintenance

Scraper

RakeFor Mattress dairies, a broom works the best!!

Free Stall Maintenance

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Barn Yard Care Is Critical

Cows Must Not Have Access To Manure!

Free Stall BarnsSigns of a problem

How many lunge attempts to get up?

Are there shinny spots on the loop?

Are loops breaking off their supports?

Signs of Poor Cow Comfort

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Signs of Poor Cow Comfort Signs of Poor Cow Comfort

Signs of Poor Cow Comfort Improper Lunge Space

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Improper Lunge Space Proper Lunge Space

Normal Lunge Lunge Space

Many people will suggest as long as a cow canlunge straight forward, that is good enough!

LISTEN TO THE COW!!

OK

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Lunge Space

Give the cow every option and she will decide!2 out of 3 cows prefer to lunge to the side!

OK OK

OK

Lunge Space

OK OK

OK

LATEST DATA SHOWS COWS THAT DO NOT HAVE SIDE LUNGE, THE HERDS WILL HAVE HIGHER SCC AND HIGHER CULL RATES

Proper Measurements for Proper Lunge Space

Most critical measurement 9-10 in (23-25 cm) maximum

Outside Wall Lunge SpaceIs Also Important

What are the cows telling you?

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Alternatives to ImproveLunge Space

Alternatives to ImproveLunge Space

Alternatives to ImproveLunge Space

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Proper Loop Design Proper Loops NeedLonger Lower RailAnd Be Placed CloserTo The Cow Bed

Longer Lower RailKeeps Cow StraightIn The Stall

At least 60cm backOf brisket board

Proper Loop Design Proper Loop DesignThe facts:

Lower cull rates

More comfort

Less injuries

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Cow ComfortBrisket Board Benefits

1. Cow position in stall better so cow cleaner

2. Cow gets up easier, it braces her as she lunges

Cow ComfortBrisket Board Dimensions

1. 66-68 inches(168-173 cm) from back of curb

2. 35-40% above bedding level with rest below

Cow ComfortBrisket Board Failures

Board Too LargeBoard Mounted Too HighBoard Too Far Forward

Improper Brisket Board Location

Too far forward >68 in (173 cm)

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Improper Brisket Board Location

Mounted Too High

Low Neck Rails = Discomfort

Less than 46 inches (112 cm)

Low Neck Rails = Discomfort

Less than 40 inches (100 cm)

OLD FACILITIESYou don’t have to tear down

what you already have.

You just need to modify itto improve cow comfort!

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Remodel Stalls to Improve Cow Comfort Remodel Stalls to Improve Cow Comfort

Remodel Stalls to Improve Cow ComfortRemodel Stalls to Improve Cow Comfort

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Remodel Stalls to Improve Cow Comfort

Manure Piles Under Loops; Common Sign of Wide Stalls

Wide Stalls Are Not The AnswerEspecially If We Talk Quality Milk!!

Wide Stalls

Greater than 48 inches (120 cm) wide

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Wide Stalls Wide Stalls**

Upside Down Loops

It is a BIG mistake!

Neck Rail Location66 inches (168 cm)

Backs of Stalls Are Dirtier

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Alley WidthReducing alley width is a poorchoice of ways to reduce cost.

Cow Alley 12 feet (Many 10 feet)Feed Alley 15 feet (Many 12 feet)

Alley WidthKey Reason For Dirty Cow Legs

When narrow, more manuresplashed on animal’s legs

regardless if over crowding or not!

Alley WidthCow Alley

NOTE: After 12 hours, manure load minimal!Approximately 25% total manure

Alley WidthFeed Alley

NOTE: After 12 hours, manure load heavy!Approximately 75% total manure

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Manure Creates Mastitis

***

Sand is the Best BeddingFor The Quality Milk

Production

All other bedding options have an increased risk to

new infections!

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Sand is the Best Bedding

After that, you choose your own poison!

The True Value Of Sand

Sand Mattress

Issue Sand MattressLameness 15% 25%Hock/Legs 10.4% 24.4%Culling 26% 38%Milk Production 26,058 24,064

VALUE: $12/cwt and 100 cow dairyMilk $23,928Lameness $7,400Culling $ 18,000TOTAL: $ 49,330 $500/cow/year

How much are manure pumps????

The True Value Of Sand

Sand Mattress

Worth $1.66 more incomeper hundred pounds

of milk produced higher milk price when compared to

mattress herds.

Sand is Comfort

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Sand is Comfort Properly Installed TiresReduce Sand Use By25-35%!

Tires Must Be HandPacked With Sand And Be 3-4 inches(7-10 cm) Below The Curb

Improper Tire Placement Causes Poor Cow Comfort

Decrease SandUse “Sand Trap”

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Decrease SandUse “Sand Trap”

University of Georgia Study NMC 2003 Proceedingsshowed best success with “Sand Trap” in reducing sand use and best cow comfort

Sand in Stanchion And Tie Stall Barns

Cleaner CowsMore ComfortBetter FootingLower Somatic Cell CountsLess Clinical MastitisLess Leg InjuriesLess Stepped on Teats

Sand in Tie Stalls Sand in Tie Stalls

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Mattress Stalls Mattress Stalls

Mattress Stalls

•Never were designed to eliminate bedding•Loose cushion effect in 2-3 years•Only those selling suggest no bedding to justify high cost.•Dirtier cows•More hock and leg injuries

HOWEVER!

Mattress Stalls

•If managed correctly, they can work well•Fantastic for tie stall or stanchion barns•Extra padding •Bedding keepers•90 plus pounds of milk•Under 150,000 SCC

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Organic Bedding

Wood Products Must Be Dry and Clean

Sawdust bedding

• Coliform cfu/g > 106 =

Bramley & Neave 1975

Coliform mastitis

Coliforms in bedding

Rendos et.al. 1975

3.1x1066.6x10652.7x106

Straw ShavingsSawdust

cfu/g

> >

Bacteria on teats

Rendos et.al. 1975

812127Straw ShavingsSawdust

Coliform cfu/swab

> >

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Klebsiella spp. in bedding

Rendos et.al. 1975

.06x106.66x1064.4x106

Straw ShavingsSawdust

cfu/g

> >

Bacteria on teats

Rendos et.al. 1975

1211Straw ShavingsSawdust

Klebsiella spp. cfu/swab

> >

Streptococci in bedding

Rendos et.al. 1975

8.6x10611.0x10653.0x106

ShavingsSawdustStraw

cfu/g

> >

Bacteria on teats

Rendos et.al. 1975

3837172064Sawdust ShavingsStraw

Streptococci cfu/swab

> >

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Bacteria in Used Bedding

Hogan et al. JDS 1989: n=9 farms6.31031.62Streptococci

.003.04Klebsiella

.5001.58Coliform2.51012.59G(-)

cfu/g x 106

InorganicOrganic Bacteria

Coliform Bacteria in Bedding

ORGANIC

INORGANIC

Streptococci in Bedding

ORGANIC

INORGANIC

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BEDDING

The more fines in the bedding,The higher the bacteria

numbers

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8.0

16

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As Bedding is Allowedto Build Up,

Environmental Bacteria Numbers Increase.

Changing Bedding Oftenis Best.

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MIXING TWO BEDDINGS

TOGETHERCREATES HIGHER

BACTERIAL LOADS

ADDING FRESH BEDDING TO

OLD BEDDINGIS LIKE ADDING

GAS TO A SMOLDERING FIRE!

Bedding Cultures

A great management tool for monitoringthe bedding choices you use.

Helps you determine whether there isAn increased risk or not for your cows.

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Organic Bedding

Bedding Keepers Provide More ComfortIf Managed Properly. (Clean and Dry)

1.25 cm

Calcium CarbonateReduces Bacteria

Be sure to cover lime with bedding!

Sanitizing Mattress Stalls

•Scrape Back 30 inches (75 cm) of stall•Spray Stall with Tek-trol* weekly

–300cc per 3 gallons (11.3 liters) of water–Does 125 stalls

•Pull fresh bedding over sprayed area

* Biotek Industries 404-799-2050

Dry Period Housing

OFTEN SUCKS!

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Typical Dry Cow “Bedding Pack”Contamination or Natural Exposure??

Pre-fresh Inoculation!!Dry Cow Environment

Is there a better alternative?

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Bedding Packs are Usually Manure Packs

• Do the knee drop test

This is not a bedding pack, it is a shit pack!!

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Bedding Packs:

• 150 square feet per animal• 16-17 square meter per animal• Control bedding – remove pies

Bedding Packs Require Lots Of Labor andLots and Lots of Bedding

Sand Calving Pens are Great, however,They too need lots of labor and care!

The Sooner EveryDairy Farm Understands

There is a HUGE Difference Between Calving Pens and

Pre-Fresh Packs,

The Better Their Milk Quality Will Be!

Over 75% of all clinical mastitis that occurs in the first 120 days of lactation are from the pre-

fresh area and calving pens.

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Cumulative risk of mastitis, by parity - SWEDEN

0,000,030,050,080,100,130,150,180,200,230,25

-15 0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300

Days from calving -15 to +300

cum

ulat

ive

risk

cum risk_allcum risk_4+cum risk_3cum risk_2cum risk_1

39 % of treatments of mastitis day -3 to +15

1-2 %*

Østerås, Lindberg et al, 2002

Calving Pens:

On less 2 hours prior to calving, off within 24 hours after

calving.

All in and all out on bedding

Dry PeriodHuge opportunity for all dairy farms

Data at least 30 years oldData on low producing cowsData on 2X Herds

*****

Dry PeriodWhere the next lactation is either enhanced or ruined.

It is time to take another look at how to manage this important group of animals

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Dry PeriodBiggest issue is animals giving too much

milk at dry off.

Common to see animals over 40 lbs at dry off.

Dry PeriodCows over 40 lbs of milk will have open

teats for up to 80 days.

Open teats increase risk to new infections by 70%.

Impact of Production at Dry Off On Keratin Plug Formation

0

20

40

60

80

100

DryOff

1 2 3 4 5 6

Week of Dry Period

% O

pen

Teat

s

<46.2lb >46.2lb

Production at dry off may be the biggest key in fresh cow mastitis!

Dry PeriodGoal is to have less than 15% of the cows

and heifers have an elevated SCC (>200,000) on first test.

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Dry PeriodHandling animals prior to dry off is

nothing new. Dairy farms used to do it routinely.

This has become a forgotten practice on most dairy farms.

Dry PeriodNew approach to Days Dry

For years, a 60 day dry off was considered ideal. That was when cows were just cows.

Dry Period42 Day Dry Period

* Four weeks far off* Two weeks close up* May be best option

Dry Period42 Day Dry Period

* Increase milking herd size* Decrease dry cow housing needs* Very successful

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Dry Period28 Day Dry Period

* 1-2 weeks far off* 2-3 weeks close up

Short Dry Period28 days

2004 University Idaho Study* No difference in production* Colostrum Quality Same* No difference reproduction* BF same, Protein slightly higher* SCC no difference

Effects of Mastitis on Milk Production

Lactation Dry Period LostProduction

Infected Non-infected (cured) 11.3%

Infected Infected (not cured) 33.2%

Non-Infected Infected (new infection) 36.6%

SCC AT DRY SCC AT CALVINGCows With Cleaner

Udders Can Be Milked Faster!

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Flaming Udders

Makes a Major Difference in Milk Quality and Parlor Performance

Flaming Udders

Flame Udders On Every AnimalWhen They Enter

The Pre-Fresh Group

Flame All Animals As Needed During Lactation

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The Super Torch

Parlor or Tie Stall Version

Stanchion Flaming Parlor Flaming

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Parlor FlamingThere’s Always A New Way

OOPS!!Bad Place To Do Demonstration On Flaming!!

Water is Wealth Water is Wealth

Every New Facility Should Have Water MetersTo Monitor Water Intakes!

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Water Intake Meters:

An absolute must on every dairy farm.

Water is Wealth

Normal Daily Need Of Milk Cow

25-35 gallons/95-133 liters(More if hot weather or cow is high producing)

Water Space2 – 2.5 Inches Per Cow

Crossover Less Than 12 feet Limits Feed and Water Intake

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Trough Space on Exit Lanes

24 inches of Water per Parlor Stall

Lack of Water Is A Key Reason for Low Milk Production

Lack of Water

Common Cause Poor Milk Production

Clean Water SupplyPoor Water Supply

Water At Parlor Exit Makes A Positive Difference

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Water In Parlors Makes More Milk New Water Cup Provides

More Water To Cow

Water Cups Should Not Be OnThe Cow Side of Stall

Water is Wealth

Lack Of Water Pressure A Major Problem In

Tie Stall/Stanchion Barns

Do Pressure Test TonightImproving Water Availability In Tie Stall BarnsPVC Pipe and Float A Low Cost Addition

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Water Trough In Tie Stall Barns Increases Milk Production

5 Pound or 2.5 Kg Increase in Milk Production Each Day

Water is Wealth

34 inch

20” 5.5”

Giving Cows Adequate Water Makes A Difference!

Water is Wealth Water is Wealth

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Water is Wealth Poor Water Fountain

IMPROVING FORAGE QUALITY

Plastic lining of bunkers will reduce spoilage andprotect over all feed quality.

Cow CleanlinessCows must be kept

clean, dry, and comfortable24 hours a day!

REMEMBER: Always listen to the cows!!!

B

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World Record Milk Production HeiferTru-Blu Duster Ihm Gem 2yr 3mo

365days 61,030 milk, 2,368 BF (3.9%), 1,930 Pro (3.2%)