In the broad view of cow comfort, bedding, stall sizes and access to feed and water are just three things to consider.
On many farms, cows spend lots of time walking, so walking space is yet another consideration.
Cows prefer to stand on a soft surface, noted UW-Madison Agricultural Engineer Dave Kammel, during the recent Tri-State Dairy Summit at Fennimore. Given a choice, they choose deep bedding over rubber surfaces. Also given the choice, they choose rubber-coated surfaces over bare concrete.
Research from 2006 yielded three tidbits of information that relate to cow comfort and health when it comes to standing and walking. First, said Kammel, “Access to a dry, comfortable standing area reduces the risk of lameness.” Second, “Time (spent) standing on concrete increases the risk of lameness,” he continued. And third, “A rest period of pasture helps cows recover.”
Since practically all barns have concrete floors, what can be done to help cows stand and walk more comfortably when they’re indoors? Kammel pointed out that making sure alleyways are wide enough for cows to comfortably walk to feed, water, the milking area and resting areas is a good first step.
Another thing that can be done is to make sure cows walk on nonslip surfaces. Cutting grooves into the floors is one way to do that. Kammel said the grooves should be cut about half an inch deep and four to five inches apart.
A strip of rubber placed on the concrete of a cow walkway can also ease the stress. Kammel reminded that this rubber strip should be textured, making it less likely that cows will slip.
Parlor preferences
Cow comfort research has also ventured into milking parlors. Kammel said the order in which cows enter a parlor tends to stay consistent from milking to milking and from day to day. The cow that’s the first one in today will likely be the first one in tomorrow.
Some cows choose the same side of the parlor over and over, too. Kammel said about a third of cows do this, while the remaining two-thirds seem to not care whether they stand on the left side or the right side.
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