Get Me to the Front of the Queue! I’m Tired of Standing. Get Me to the Front of the Queue! Cow Comfort Martin van der Leek Production Animal Studies Zoetis, 2016

Freestalls/Cubicles http://shedblog.com.au/ventilation-methods-in-free-stall-barns-and-shelter-sheds/

Resting Area Freedoms stretch their front legs forward, lie on their sides, with unobstructed space for their neck and head, rest their heads against their sides without hindrance from a partition, Anderson & Zurbrigg, 2003

Resting Area Freedoms rest with their legs, udders and tails on the platform, stand or lie without pain or fear from neck rails, partitions, or supports, and rest on a clean, dry, and soft bed. Anderson & Zurbrigg, 2003

How Much Space?

How Much Space? Friesian/Holstein lying & rising in a field: 241 x 117 cm living space plus 61 cm lunge space Faull et al, 1996

Cow Comfort Lameness is a response to our choices of systems, facility features & management. Cow responses can be audited. Lameness a focus of any Cow Comfort & Welfare audit.

Cook et al, JDS, 2016 (submitted) Sand vs Mattress Lameness Prevalence Cook, JAVMA, 2003 Espejo et al, JDS, 2006 Cook et al, JDS, 2016 (submitted) Number Herds (sand/mattress) 16 (9/7) 53 (16/37) 61 (41/20) % Lame Sand 19.8 17.1 11.0 Mattress 30.2 27.9 17.5 Upper Midwest, USA

What Gives? Cows get ‘stuck’ The primary behavioural change observed in stall use by lame cows most consistently is an increase in the time standing in the stall (perching or all 4 feet in) to between 4 and 6 hrs/day because of the reluctance to rise & lie down. Cows get ‘stuck’

Perching! Let Me In!

Correct stall dimensions. Speaks for itself! The Good & the Ugly Low neck rail, narrow stalls & short platform, with cows perching for up to 2.5 hours after milking! Correct stall dimensions. Speaks for itself!

What Does She Do with Her Time? ACTIVITY TIME FOR ACTIVITY (hrs) Eating 3 to 5 Lying/resting 12 to 14 Social interactions 2 to 3 Ruminating 7 to 10 Drinking 0.5 Management activities (incl. milking) 2.5 to 3.5 Grant, 2007

Time Budget

My Stall is Better than Yours! Resting time increased by 3 hrs per day. Perching time decreased by 2.4 hours per day. Bouts of resting time increased by 23 min. Bouts of standing time decreased by 3 min. Milk production increased by 3 kg/cow/day! FRONT WIDTH NECK RAIL HEIGHT NECK RAIL FORWARD LENGTH BRISKET LOOP OPENING Original Pipes 112 109 170 244 20cm board at 175 71 New Open 122 127 178 10cm pillow at 183 96 84 cows, 70 stalls

What’s it Worth? Each additional 1 hr of resting time increased milk production by 1.7 kg. BEWARE overcrowding when lying time takes preference over feeding time! Bach et al, 2008

‘The List’ by Nigel Cook Hoof health management Sand bedded stalls Time for rest Hoof health management Footbath Good flooring Heat abatement 1) Sand in alleyways; 2) stall design, time milking, time locked, overstocking, heat stress; 3) functional trimming; 4) rubber flooring

Lying time decreases from 10.9 to 7.9 hrs/day as THI increases. Cook et al, JDS, 2007 Moderate THI of 56.2 to 73.8. Lying time decreases from 10.9 to 7.9 hrs/day as THI increases. Standing time in the alley increases from 2.6 to 4.5 hrs/day. Behaviour shifts at a THI of 68 or an ‘activation’ temperature of about 21°C.

Cook & Nordlund, The Vet. Journal, 2007 Sand bedded stalls promote rest. Rubber floors reduce claw wear & trauma in holding areas, alleyways & walkways. BEWARE of rubber floors & uncomfortable stalls!

Help, I can’t get out: Part I Lunge impeded by a pipe. Hock sores & abrasions.

Help, I can’t get out: Part II Lunge impeded by a wall. Hock sores & abrasions.

OK, That’s Better!

Pasture

Cook, The Australian Dairyfarmer, 2013 Larger herds, Longer distances. Larger groups, Longer time in holding pen, Increased heat stress. Eat Rest Grazing 8 7 to 11 TMR 4.5 12

Hazard of conception for lame cows was 0.78. Alawneh et al, JDS, 2011 463 cows on 1 farm in NZ. Hazard of conception for lame cows was 0.78. Lame cows took 12 days longer to get pregnant.

NZ veterinary treatments WLD – cow, lateral claw, hind foot, Friesian Lawrence et al, JDS, 2011 NZ veterinary treatments WLD – cow, lateral claw, hind foot, Friesian Sole injury – heifer, medial claw. Axial disease – Jersey, front foot.

The Doc as Distractor? Manage & promote your veterinary visits to have smaller groups, more often & be more time efficient. ALWAYS consider the implications of any ‘program’ on the time budget & standing time!

The Future is Now! These technologies will drive the average dairy out of business.