Proper crowd-gate functioning benefits both cows and dairy farm workers. For farm managers, effective staff training, regular crowd-gate maintenance and proper management are essential for ensuring successful crowd gate operation. While crowd-gates help keep cows near the parlor entrance, it is crucial to avoid misusing them to promote positive animal welfare.
A crowd-gate is a movable-barrier that runs from the back of the holding area to the front, gently guiding cows into the milking parlor. When used correctly, a crowd-gate reduces empty space in the holding area and improves cow flow, leading to more efficient milking. The gate can usually be raised or lifted overhead to return it to its starting position at the back of the holding area for the next group of cows. The crowd gate can be controlled manually or automatically.
There are three common mistakes observed in the use of crowd-gates and management of holding areas.
- Overcrowding the holding area
- Careless use of the crowd-gate
- Workers entering the holding area to chase cows
Each will be discussed, along with best practices to address those common challenges.
Don't overcrowd holding area
Trying to fit too many cows into a limited space for extended periods can be detrimental to animal welfare, production and health. In the holding area, cows are standing on concrete, away from feed, water and comfortable stalls.
Signs of an overcrowded holding pen include cows with their heads up, unable to plant their four feet on the ground, and looking restless and uncomfortable. Short-term overcrowding can also result from misuse of the crowd-gate, by employees pushing it too far forward and smashing the cows.
Overcrowding can become particularly uncomfortable during the summer months. Cows generate a lot of body heat, and they need air flow around them to dissipate that heat. In hot weather, a lot of cow bodies close together exacerbates heat stress and discomfort.
Best practice to combat overcrowding is to try and minimize stress and discomfort. Maintaining appropriate stocking densities in holding areas is crucial for cow welfare. Parlor and pen sizes should be balanced to ensure cows spend no more than one hour away from their pens per each milking. Recommended stocking density per cow in the holding area is at least 20 square feet.
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