Factors influencing cow comfort Steve Adam agr. R&D Valacta

Valacta Dairy Production Centre of Expertise Dairy knowledge at your fingertips

From where ?

Temperature (Quebec) °C

MISSION Unite industry stakeholders in improving the efficiency and profitability of dairy farms by stimulating the development of knowledge, facilitating its diffusion, and encouraging its adoption by dairy producers. Mr. Pierre Lampron, dairy producer President of FPLQ and Valacta

Structure Limited partnership Board: 14 members Majority are producers FGCAQ (Quebec Federation of Management Clubs )CIAQ (Quebec AI Centre)CQRL (Quebec Dairy Breeds Council)University of Montreal, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLaval UniversityRepresentatives from the Atlantic RegionOne external administrator

Major Functions The development of knowledge and its transfer to dairy producers and industry partners Advisory Services Personalised Strategic Advice Group training sessions and workshops Extension and communication Technical Services Milk Recording Data Collection and management Milk Quality and CQM Milking Equipment and Methods Laboratory Analysis Services Milk Recording Milk Quality Milk Payment Reference Analysis Processing of milk recording data within CDHI

PROVINCEValacta PENSNBNLQCTotal # Herds ,3537,071 # Herds using MR ,0835,521 % using MR # Cows on MR911812,95912, ,188325,132 Average Herd Size % Herds > % Milking Parlors Distribution of Clientele

Field Services CategoryNumber Regional Managers7 Strategic Advisors10 Dairy Production Advisors65* Business Development Coaches4 Dairy Production Technicians152** Milk Quality Technicians11 * 8 organic specialists ** 36 CQM support ** 21 CQM auditors

The largest dairy laboratory in North America

Research & Development Multidisciplinary team Nutrition, Genetics, Comfort and welfare, Agroeconomist, Veterinarian, Goat milk production, Organic milk production, Data analysis and Knowledge transfer.

What do cows need?

Water and feeding Space Rest Air Light

Feeding

Non-dietary factors and herd performance (Bach et al., 2008) 47 herds with similar genetics were fed same TMR Milk yield varied by ±13 kg/d – Mean milk yield = 29.5 kg/d Non-dietary factors accounted for 56% of variation in milk yield – Age at first calving – Feeding for refusals (29.0 vs 27.5 kg/d) – Feed push-ups (29.9 vs 25 kg/d) – Stalls:cow

Bunk space Reduce competition 60 cm (Lactating) cm (Dry-Transition)

Water

Min 2 troughs/group 60 cm per cows. 60 cm/head (exit of the parlor) Position: External wall

Is it correct ?

Resting

Relationship between resting and milk yield (Miner Institute data base) (Grant, 2010) Resting time (h) Milk yield (kg/d) y = x r 2 = 0.31 ~1.7 kg/d more milk for each extra hour  Increased resting time with greater DIM, milk yield (Bach et al., 2010)

Cows have strong behavioral need to rest … Cows sacrifice feeding to make up lost resting –For every 3.5 min of lost rest, cows sacrifice 1 min of eating Cows spend more time waiting in alleys to lie down than eating when overstocked Negative effects of short periods of deprivation are cumulative Resting: h/d “Vitamin R” Grant, 2010

Resting time Minimum 12 h/d To promote resting time: – Stall width – Soft surface

Knee test Source: Symposium sur les bovins laitiers 2004

Space

Stalls per cow and milk production in 47 herds fed same TMR (Bach et al., 2008) R 2 =0.32 Milk yield = x stall/cow 1.5 kg Grant, 2010

Raising up Dr Neil Anderson

Lying down Dr Neil Anderson

Perching Source: M.F. Hutjens Maximum 3 %

Standing or lying diagonally

Lying backwards

Agitation

Caudal licking behavior

Comfortable walk

Dog-sitting

Stall design Maintain neck rail at 110 to 130 cm above bedding surface C = Length from rear curb to neck rail 23 cm max B= Divider mounting width 30 cm max from stall surface to top of lower divider rail 12 cm 20 cm high curb Minimum sand depth at Max fill: 30 cm Minimum sand depth before fill : 15 cm A = Length from rear curb to brisket locator Stall length 300 cm against a side wall, 275 cm Head to head

-More milk than mattresses or straw bedding. -Less injuries -Liying time is better But : -Manutention -Granulométrie Test de la poignée Sand Vortex Holsteins

Matresses/bedding La litière est toujours obligatoire… pour réduire l’abrasion

Space allocation « Brisket positionner » Less than 10 cm

Commodus (Lely)

Logistalle

Logitalle

Logistalle

Greenstall

Neck Acceptable (0-1) unacceptable (2-3) Neck injuries score 0 = ok, 3 = swollen with or without lesion MAPAQ

Lesion and hair losses

Gait scoring

Air

Temperature and humidity The best temperature for high milk producing cows is: 5°C !! Thermal comfort zone is: -13°C to +27°C (23°C for high milk producing cows) Heat stress ( 24°C + 80% RH ): -Reduction of consumption Reduction of production - Reduction of length and expression of heats -Reduction of conception rate and embryo survival

Low Profile Cross Ventilation Barns House, 2010

Tunnel ventilation 6 km/h No flies !

Fans

Light

Dairy cows: 16 hours Lux Dry cows: 8 hours-200 Lux 6 kg/d for first 9 weeks Auchtung, 2005

Gracias!