Cattle Housing and Mastitis - Tagged (1).pdf

Housing systems for dairy cows Jo Oultram Why house cows? Cow housing must deliver the five freedoms: Cow needs room for 30 movements (up/down/back/forwards) 0.7-1m space Cow able to perform normal 30movements which comprise normal rising behaviour (needs 0.7-1m lunge space) How can housin...

Housing systems for dairy cows Jo Oultram Why house cows? Cow housing must deliver the five freedoms: Cow needs room for 30 movements (up/down/back/forwards) 0.7-1m space Cow able to perform normal 30movements which comprise normal rising behaviour (needs 0.7-1m lunge space) How can housing contribute to mastitis? Why are these cows clean? Desirable? Light and airy Desirable? Open building for daylight and ventilation Well ventilated building permits evaporation and daylight Basic needs in cow housing Minimum values (75 and 100cm RSPCA) AHDB documents DAIRY HOUSING https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/dairy-housing-ventilation BEEF HOUSING https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/brp-better-cattle-housing-design Option 1: Loose housing (straw +/sand) Clearly divided bedding and standing/feeding passage; bedding kept back by sleepers/similar Water supply Water trough outside the feed barrier Water trough on straw area but access restricted to passage side only Option 2: Cubicle housing Aims of cubicle design (2-3% slope) Recommended cubicle dimensions for HolsteinFriesian cows over 600 kg (AHDB) AHDB cubicle guidelines, based on bodyweight Width 1.15-1.2m Basic measurements CCQ Lying down/interacting SUI Stall Use Index SSI Stall standing Index Cow comfort quotient How have cubicles changed? A “Cowcoon” Gathering evidence of poor cubicle design/use Behavioural observations (1) Behavioural observations (2) Behavioural observations (3) Lesions Consequences of poor cubicle use (1) Consequences of poor cubicle use (2) Choice of beds (substrate may be 3kg straw/cubicle/day,or sawdust/shavings) “Green Bedding” “Green Bedding” APHA and Red Tractor Use recycled manure solids as cattle bedding - GOV.UK (www .gov.uk) https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/regulations-forusing-recycled-manure-solids-as-a-cattle-bedding-material Focus is on • Disease spread and pathogen build up • Public perception • Milk processors and retailers Lighting Types of grooving: options Parallel lines 40mm apart, 6-10mm deep and each groove 10mm wide Squares or diamonds similarly measured Parallel lines more widely spaced (recent research) Can be done in new wet concrete or old regrooved Slats and slurry Water flush Building design Central and peripheral feed passages Adequate feed rail height Feed rail offset forward Cow comfort and feed intake Keeping feed pushed up/in reach Cow comfort.....brushes ......Sprinklers Ventilation: a cow has an internal heater...the rumen Roof slots (three-quarter inch gaps) Fans? Open ridge plus chimney sides Calving box Schematic of straw yard References Hughes, John - Cows and cubicles - In Practice Vol 22. Issue 5; 2000 Hughes, John - A system for assessing cow cleanliness - In Practice Vol 23, Issue 9 www.calfnotes.com https://www.vetvice.com/cowsignals