The goal of every dairy producer should be to provide a barn and milking environment for cows to improve cow comfort, milk production and herd health. Feeding systems and feeding strategies should focus on maximizing feed intake and ensuring appropriate body condition. The movements of cows in and out of the milking parlor should be gentle and considered.

Between two herds with similar genetics and diets, herd comfort can cause a difference of thousands of kilograms in the average annual milk yield of the whole herd. Successful producers should create a good environment for dairy cows that will stress, feed and drink too much. Competition and the possibility of injury are minimized. This paper focuses on the important aspects of facility design and herd management that can enhance cow comfort and maximize feed intake.

Design and Dimensions

For most cattle farms, reasonable maintenance of open cattle pens (Freestalls) or tethered bullpen (Tiestalls) is the key to ensuring the comfort of the cow. Cattle pens should provide a clean, dry and comfortable place for cows to lie down. The size and design of the barn should allow the cow to stand and lie naturally.“Cow Cowshed and Facilities Manual (Dairy Housing and Equipment Handbook）”(MWPS-7) provides the recommend size of the open bullpen, which can be obtained from“Dairy Cattle Cooperation Promotion Center (Cooperative Extension）”Get. An important consideration in the design of the bullpen is“Dash space (Long space）”. When standing, the cow must dash forward or sideways. If there is not enough dash space available in the bullpen, the cow will have difficulty getting up and may gradually stop using the bullpen.

To find out if the bullpen you designed for cows is comfortable and reasonable, consider the following:
1)Do cows always avoid certain cattle pens?
2)Does the cow lie back in the barn or on the walkway?
3)Does the cow stand half inside and half outside the pen?
4)Cows normally rest at night10Until the next morning4Point, whether there is at this time.20~30%The cows above are still standing in the bullpen?
If the answer to any of the above questions is“Yes”If so, it means that these bullpens are not comfortable enough. In addition, check for rubbed hair and damage to the hocks and knees. These are signals of excessive friction with the barns or neck clamps when the cow is standing up or lying down.

cow mattress layer

Straw, sawdust, sand, and shredded newspaper make good cattle mattresses. The choice of litter often depends on the cow manure treatment system. Any litter used must keep the cow clean and dry. Keep the bullpen cushion layer good, enhance moisture absorption, increase elasticity, ensure the comfort of the bullpen, improve the utilization rate, and reduce the possibility of cow injury.
Most cows like to have before and after4%Sloped bullpen. The surface of the bullpen with bedding should be flat, no.“Pot (Potholes）”. Look for dirty tail hair, nipples and buttocks. Many veterinarians recommend a“Knee Test (Wet knee test）”. Kneeling in the bullpen10Seconds, if your knees are wet, then your bullpen bedding is not suitable.“Kneel test method (Drop knee test）”In the middle, you crouch down and kneel in the bullpen, and soon you will know how comfortable your bullpen really is for cows.
Cattle pens should be inspected daily and wet litter removed. Improper maintenance of open cattle pens not only reduces the comfort of cows, but also increases the risk of mastitis.

Rocky Lick Brick

Pass Wind

Your cattle farm ventilation system should prevent high humidity in winter and high heat in summer. The front of the open barn and the stalls should be open enough to allow air to move through the cows. Check the facilities in the barn for rust, especially the roof. Spider webs are usually a sign that ventilation is not open. Other signs of poor ventilation include the smell of ammonia in the air, a cow coughing, a runny nose or open mouth breathing. If you run your fingers over the cow's fur, in a well-ventilated In the barn, the hair on the body surface of the cow should be dry.

ground Face

All surfaces on which cows will walk should be treated with anti-skid to reduce injuries and increase the mobility of cows to feed, drink and rest areas. If you notice that the cow walks slowly, cautiously, or with its hind legs stretched out to the sides, this may It indicates that the ground is slippery. All cement surfaces should be pressed with lines to reduce their smoothness. Before placing the cow in the newly cast and embossed cement, make sure to grind the rough or sharp surface to avoid injury to the cow's hoof.

Milking parlor and to be milked

Cows should not stay in the bullpen for more2hours (preferably in1within hours). If the cow feels comfortable, the cow will regurgitate in the milking parlor and in the milking stall. If there is more20%The above cows defecate in the milking parlor, which is a sign that the cow is uncomfortable or uncomfortable. The milking system shall be properly designed, installed and maintained. When cows seem to be uneasy in the milking parlor, as a possible factor, parasitic voltages should usually be checked (Stray voltage). Milkmen should be calm and reliable when handling and milking cows. For details on the rational design and maintenance of milking systems, please refer to the publicationEC87-726“Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mastitis (Mastitis Control Guidlines）”.

feeding management

For any dairy business, especially for cattle farms planning to expand their herds, the feeding techniques used must be carefully evaluated to ensure that they enhance the lactating herd“Intense feeding behavior (Intense feeding behavior）”.
Feeding techniques include:
ØFeeding system (intelligent feeding machine, total mixed ration, refined roughage feeding, feeding trough, enclosure feeding, etc.);
ØFeeding strategy (correct feeding time, feeding frequency, etc.);
Ødiet composition

An advantageous feeding program will optimize these three components through the lactating herd to promote cow comfort, normal feeding, and social group behavior. Intense feeding behavior promotes increased feed intake and appropriate production and reproductive performance, and improve herd health. When expanding their herds and related facilities, some producers experience reduced milk production, reproductive rates and cow health, some of which are related to unreasonable feeding. Management related.

feeding behavior

Recently, researchers at Michigan State University gathered a wealth of information about the feeding behavior of cows during early and peak lactation. These cows are kept in a tethered barn. During peak milk production, cows eat more23kilograms of dry matter, drink away75More than a liter of water. The average feeding amount per meal is about2.2kg, fed daily11Times. Dairy cows feed each meal for about30Minutes, the daily feeding time is about5Hours.
Compared with young cows with low milk production, high-yield cows eat more feed, eat faster when fed in large quantities, ruminate longer and more efficiently, and drink more water. Because of this inherent difference between first-born and productive cattle, it is necessary to raise them in groups if we want to do our best to promote strong feeding behavior and active feeding habits in dairy cows.

maximum feed intake

Cows should reach maximum feed intake within ten weeks after calving. This will shorten the time for the cow to have a negative energy balance. In general, cows that reach high levels of feed intake early in the milk production period produce more milk, have fewer health problems, and have higher reproductive efficiency. In the three weeks after calving, first-born young cattle should be increased on a weekly basis1.4~1.8The ratio of kilograms increases dry matter intake on a daily basis, while the production of cows increases by weekly.2.2~2.7The proportion of kilograms increases day by day.
Cows that reach peak intake should be able to eat at least as much as their own weight.4%of dry matter. For example, the weight is600Kilograms of cows should be eaten24kilograms of dry matter (0.04 × 600). Another good measure is per yield.2Kilograms of milk expected intake1kilograms of dry matter. Therefore, a daily milk40Kilograms of cows should eat20kilograms of dry matter.
When the intake of cows is lower than these target levels, it usually leads to poor fat condition, reduced reproduction rate, increased incidence of cattle, and shortened peak milk production.
It must be remembered that a balanced diet should provide balanced and sufficient nutrition to fully satisfy the cow.24hours of nutritional needs. In addition, the nutrients needed by cows must be included in24Within hours of the amount of feed that cows can eat. Although every beneficial feeding program must meet these two basic nutritional requirements, many producers often ignore these needs.

Feeding strategies for increasing feed intake

Several of the main factors affecting feed intake in the feeding strategy include:
ØFeed availability and feeding time
Øtrough management
ØFeeding frequency and feeding sequence
Ødiet moisture content
ØHerd strategy of young cows and adult cows
ØAvoid sudden changes in the diet
ØProvide sufficient drinking water

For most feeding systems, every day must be guaranteed.20More than hours have feed supply. Any time a cow wants to eat, there should be fresh feed available to the cow. Recent studies of high-yield herds have shown that cows want to eat after milking, scraping leftover material along the aisles of open pens, or whenever feed is pushed in front of them. The cows every day.65~70%The dry matter intake is taken during the day. Obviously, a feeding system that increases feed intake must be consistent with these natural feeding habits of cows.

The trough should be kept clean and free of spoiled feed--Cows don't use the feed they don't eat to produce milk! Most experts recommend that the feeding trough space for each cow should be60~75cm. However, the most suitable width of the feeding trough for your herd should depend on the utilization rate of the feed. The key is to carefully observe the group behavior of dairy cows when they feed. Is there too much snatching or competition for cows when feeding? Are young cows or new-born cows pushed out of the feeding trough by strong cows? Excessive mud, manure, water, ice and gravel will affect the movement of cows. Develop the best feeding plan for your cows, especially if you have just expanded and put cows into a new herd or new barn, you must carefully observe the feeding and group behavior of the herd.

The water content of the diet should be accurately monitored and the diet structure adjusted accordingly (at least once a week). Attempt to maintain dietary moisture15~50%to increase feeding. Pushing the feed to the cow's mouth multiple times a day can stimulate the feeding activity of the cow. If the concentrate and coarse feed are fed separately, they should be fed at least daily.4sub-concentrate, each feeding amount does not exceed2.3~3.2Kilograms.

The core of the feeding system for high-yielding dairy cows lies in high-quality roughage. High fiber content and poor quality roughage can limit feed intake. Therefore, excessive intake of grains relative to roughage usually leads to rumen acidosis in cows, food Problems such as lack of appetite, and reduced milk production. In addition to feeding high-protein and high-energy roughage, it is necessary to avoid moldy, dusty or excessive hard stem hay to avoid reducing feed intake.

In order to resist heat stress, a well-designed pen-feeding system requires shading facilities and some kind of sprinkler system. A University of Nebraska study of ranching shows that these devices can improve60%The feeding activities.

The feeding order of roughage and supplement affects the feed intake and milk production of dairy cows. In one study, feeding a high-moisture whole plant corn and protein supplement prior to feeding alfalfa silage increased daily dry matter intake.0.9kg, increase milk yield1.8Kilograms.

Do not forget to provide drinking water. Do not exceed the number of cows available per drinking trough.20~25, and reasonable placement, such as milking parlour entrance, open cattle pen, or sports ground, so that all cows in the herd can drink water. The distance between the water source and the feeding area should not exceed15Meters. High-yield dairy cows per yield1Kilograms of milk to drink1.9liters of water. If cows drink less normal amount40%The water will decrease.20%of dry matter intake. Even cows eat less0.45~0.9kg of dry matter, will also reduce the peak milk yield0.9~1.5Kilograms. You know, every increase in the peak milk production of cows1kg of milk production, the whole milk production period will increase200kilos of milk.
Remember: your ultimate feeding goal is to do everything possible to lure all the cows back to the feeding trough to eat even a little more feed!

Grouping and rearing
The clustering strategy should be to promote the increase of feed intake and positive feeding behavior as soon as possible after delivery. After grouping, each group of cows should be consistent to facilitate diet coordination and feeding management. The size of the herd depends on the feeding facilities, the total number of cows on the farm, and the maximum number of cows that can be tolerated by the milking, feeding, and barn facilities and personnel currently available on the farm.
Heifers should be herd within a few weeks after calving. This allows heifers to adapt to the postpartum environment, improve feeding behavior and reduce metabolic disorders. Postpartum grouping will enable heifers to eat more feed and increase milk production. Pasture observations show that, The effect of herd feeding of dairy cows during the transition period was the best. A single herd with low density and sufficient feeding trough space will reduce postpartum stress and competition for feeding, regardless of first or parturient cattle. If there is a problem with true stomach displacement, take Feed the cows every day.2.3Kilograms of long alfalfa will have good results, which has been confirmed by the University of Nebraska Research Ranch.

Feeding system checklist: the key to successful cattle farm development

Overall, consider the following checklist to ensure that you have integrated the most favorable feeding system for your dairy farm. Whether you are planning to expand the herd, or have already expanded the herd and are currently facing some new cattle. The problem of herd, or just want to improve the efficiency and economic benefits of the current cattle farm, careful consideration of each item in the checklist will further improve the efficiency of your feeding system.
1.Facilities and clusters:
A.Feed and feeding management
²Storage of feed (sufficient space, good maintenance, convenient access)
²Proper stock of roughage
²Can feed be efficiently delivered to all barn
²reduction of feed waste (no more5%Remaining material)
²Accurately weigh all feed for all herds
B.Cows and cow operations
²Cows in and out of the milking parlor should be gentle and thoughtful, avoiding sharp turns in the aisles and milking parlors.
²Cows can easily eat when they want to eat.
²There are convenient shading and cooling measures in summer; there are appropriate protective measures in the cowshed in winter
²The time that cows are away from feed and drinking water every day should be as short as possible (not more6hours)
²Accurate cow weighing and body size measurement
²Appropriate physical condition
C.Feeding trough and cattle pen
²Adequate feeding trough space (60~75cm)
²utilization and quality of drinking water (each sink up20head of cattle)
²Reasonable maintenance of feeding facilities
²The surface and edges of the groove should be smooth.
2.Quality of feed in the trough
A.Feed feeding
²appropriate particle size (length over5The particles of centimeters should be more15%）
² TMRFeed mixed evenly every day
²Feed at least twice a dayTMRFeed
²Frequently pushing feed in front of cows
²All day feed without mildew, low temperature, good palatability
²Dietary moisture in15~50%Between
²Each cow is fed daily60~120grams of mineral supplements
²Is the grain size of the grain mixture coarse enough?
²Daily feeding of grain feed4More than once, at most.2.3~3.2kg
²per production2.5~3.5kg milk feeding1kg of grain feed
²Cows feed a daily equivalent to their body weight1.8~2.5%of roughage
²Regular testing of roughage, at least four adjustments to the diet per year
B.Remaining Feed
²Feed should not accumulate in the feeding trough
²Check the composition of the leftovers, whether the cow is picky?
In addition to this checklist, the following cow, feed, and environmental factors should be assessed when measuring whether your feeding program is successfully meeting the nutritional and feeding behavioural needs of the cow:
1.Limb and hoof disease can limit the movement of cows;
2.ruminant activity--Ideally, more than half of the cows in the herd are feeding or regurgitating at any one time;
3.the hardness, color and contents of the stool;
4.The look and feel and cleanliness of the cow's quilt;
5.Breathing--Check whether the cow has cough, runny nose phenomenon;
6.Physical conditions of roughage--should be of sufficient length to contain no grass seeds, mildew or rot;
7.Treating cows--Be thoughtful and gentle.

Total knot

Observe your cow's social group behavior and feeding behavior regularly to determine the effectiveness of your feeding, barn, milking and herding systems. For any size herd, a well-designed feeding system needs to promote a strong feeding behavior and improve the feed intake of a balanced diet. Remember that raising a cow properly is far more complicated than looking at a computer-printed balanced diet. For high-yielding dairy cows, management strategies are successfully implemented to maximize Cow intake and cow comfort will determine the extent to which a balanced diet supports milk production. If you want to maximize cow comfort and feed intake, considering these feeding and management principles will help you successfully develop Show your cattle farm, or adjust your existing cattle farm, to enhance the profitability of your operations.