On a mattress in an open landscape

Janne Karin Brodin

A cow that has a ground pad in her resting box and the freedom to move naturally in order to get up and lie down, shows increased milk production, less disease and reduced risk of teat lesions.

Norwegian cows move into the future in open barn landscapes. All cow barns built after 2004 must, according to the regulation on cattle husbandry, be built as free-stall barns.

Furthermore, all existing tie-stall barns must be converted to loose housing barns within 2024.

Up until now, little research had been done as to how the resting box should be constructed. There is great potential in this to improve life for the cows and revenue for the farmer.

The tendency has been to put up more barriers in the boxes to try to make the cow defecate outside the box. This has been shown to be counterproductive.

PhD student Lars Erik Ruud in a free-stall barn with open boxes Photo: Vincent Musi

–The more the size of the box was reduced, and the more rails that were put in, the more dirty the box became, says PhD candidate Lars Erik Ruud of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB).

A cow stands up by stretching 0.6 to 0.8 meter forward. In a closed box with rails across the front, she will try to use the corner-to-corner diagonal – the longest part of the box – but the rails will hinder her all the same, and she must twist her body in order to stand up.

–She becomes stressed, and will often defecate before she has managed to rise completely. The result is that the dung ends up inside the box, says Ruud.

Cow on matress in an open box Photo: Lars Erik Ruud

Possibility for natural movements in an open box
In one of the studies in Ruud’s PhD work, the design and cleanliness of the box were registered.
It turned out that in a resting box which is open in front, the cow will move forward in a natural movement, stand up normally, take some time to stretch her body and then defecate. This way, the dung ends up outside the box.

–Several things must be considered when designing the box. The cow must have room for natural movements, but there must also be some constraints, so that she doesn’t lie down any old how, Ruud says.

In addition to the front of the box, things such as indoor climate and use of bedding material are important to cleanliness.

Lying on a mattress
Ruud also conducted a study on different types of ground pad in the box. Using soft ground pads is not a new invention, but this is the first time the advantages have been quantified to such an extent.

The research showed that a soft pad can give up to 5 % increase in milk yield if it has a minimum of 16 mm impact. This means more that 300 litres per cow. There was also less mastitis and fewer teat lesions.

–When the cow lies on a hard floor, she is more likely to step on her own teats when getting up. A soft pad gives better footing. Teat lesions can in a worst case scenario mean that the animal must be culled even if she is a good milch cow, Ruud informs us.

–Veterinary expenses and loss of milk yield for a cow with mastitis normally costs around NOK 5000 per case, so there is real money to be saved on avoiding injuries and illness.

The results of Ruud’s PhD thesis can contribute to improved animal welfare, less work for the farmer and not least an improved financial situation for the farmer.

Changing existing boxes
It is often possible to change the front of the box in an existing loose housing barn.

–The problem can be that the rail that closes the front of the box may also be the support for the partition between the boxes. Newer types of partitions are often fixed to the floor. This allows for the rails in the front of the box to be adapted quite easily, Ruud concludes.

Background
A rubber mat for a ground pad and an open fronted resting box give improved animal welfare.
PhD candidate L.E.R. in a loose housing barn with open resting boxes

Updated: 26.01.12
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