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

2. Valacta Dairy Production Centre of Expertise Dairy knowledge at your fingertips

3. From where ?

4. Temperature (Quebec) °C

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. PROVINCEValacta PENSNBNLQCTotal # Herds209245225396,3537,071 # Herds using MR12415515455,0835,521 % using MR59.363.368.412.880.078.1 # Cows on MR911812,95912,069798290,188325,132 Average Herd Size73.583.678.4159.657.158.9 % Herds >5064.371.16510047.549 % Milking Parlors34.365.156.9808.2111.1 Distribution of Clientele

9. 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

10. The largest dairy laboratory in North America

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

12. What do cows need?

13. Water and feeding Space Rest Air Light

14. Feeding

15. 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

16. Bunk space Reduce competition 60 cm (Lactating) 75-90 cm (Dry-Transition)

17. Water

18. Min 2 troughs/group 60 cm per 15-20 cows. 60 cm/head (exit of the parlor) Position: External wall

19. Is it correct ?

20. Resting

21. Relationship between resting and milk yield (Miner Institute data base) (Grant, 2010) Resting time (h) Milk yield (kg/d) 27 32 36 41 45 49 7101317 y = 22.3 + 1.7 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)

22. 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: 12-14 h/d “Vitamin R” Grant, 2010

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

24. http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_tsdimen.htm

25. Knee test Source: Symposium sur les bovins laitiers 2004

26. Space

27. Stalls per cow and milk production in 47 herds fed same TMR (Bach et al., 2008) R 2 =0.32 Milk yield = 20.4 + 7.5 x stall/cow 1.5 kg Grant, 2010

28. Raising up Dr Neil Anderson

32. Lying down Dr Neil Anderson

33. Perching http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm Source: M.F. Hutjens Maximum 3 %

34. Standing or lying diagonally http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm

35. Lying backwards http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm

36. Agitation

37. Caudal licking behavior http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm

38. Comfortable walk

39. Dog-sitting http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm

40. 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

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

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

43. Space allocation http://www.wilsonagri.co.uk/polypillow.htm « Brisket positionner » Less than 10 cm

44. Commodus (Lely)

46. Logistalle

47. Logitalle

48. Logistalle

49. Greenstall

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

52. Lesion and hair losses http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_fsdimen.htm

53. Gait scoring

54. Air

55. 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

56. Low Profile Cross Ventilation Barns House, 2010

57. Tunnel ventilation 6 km/h No flies !

59. Fans

60. Light

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

62. Gracias!