Cow comfort

Where cows gather shows where they are
most comfortable.

Return land showers (for cooling & cleaning cow)

Heat Stress Avoidance Checklist

Where cows gather shows where they are most comfortable.

A cow will choose to stand/lie/rest in the location where she is most comfortable. Often times, dairy facilities will "encourage" negative behavior by cows because total cow comfort has not been considered. A common example is cooling (shade, misters, fans) near the feeding area. This is a good idea because it encourages feed intake and more frequent eating during hot weather. However, if the stalls are not cooled also, cows will not rest. And the benefits of more frequent eating for hoof health and milk production will be more than offset by the negative effects of standing for too long. A corollary to this idea is the fact that if you watch your cows, they will show you the problems in the facility.

Author Larry Jones, Dairy Development International Date March 2006

Return land showers (for cooling & cleaning cow)

The main purpose of a return lane shower is to cool cows more effectively after milking. An added benefit is that cows are actually cleaner. Cleaner cows dissipate heat more effectively than cows with manure caked coats; they are also less bothered by flies. Here's how to build your own:
Parts:

2 shower heads - nothing fancy, inexpensive ones are fine. Remove the water restrictors.
an electric solenoid valve
motion sensor for an outside light – available in most hardware or home stores
sources of water & power

Place the motion sensor about 1 ft further down the return alley than the shower heads. This will cause the water to turn on & hit the cow in the wither area. Cows will keep moving forward instead of stopping when water hits their heads. Also, the motion sensor will need to be operated in "test" mode for the delay time. This usually results in a 3 second delay & then the water turns off. Shielding the motion sensor with a large can so it will only detect movement in the return lane is a good idea.

Author Dave King, Holtz-Nelson Consulting Date May 2006

Heat Stress Avoidance Checklist

Before warm weather starts, go through this Heat Stress Avoidance Checklist to avoid production losses:

Are fan blades clean (and unbent!)
Are there enough fans, with enough CFM capacity in the proper areas?

Top priorities: 1. holding area, 2. feed bunk area, 3. head to head stalls, & 4.outside row stalls

Are fans on thermostats? If not, they should be! If so,are the thermostats in working order? Fans should start at no higher than 70F - many farms find a setting of 64-66 F is better.
Are sprinkler systems in working order? Are timers and thermostats set correctly and in working order?
If you are in a humid area, is the sprinkler system adequately "soaking" cows?
Do you have an exit shower system in place?

Author Corwin Holtz, Holtz-Nelson Consulting Date May 2006