factors influencing cow comfort steve adam agr. r&d valacta
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Factors influencing cow comfort
Steve Adam agr.R&D
Valacta
Valacta Dairy Production Centre of Expertise
Dairy knowledge at your fingertips
Temperature(Quebec)
jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
AverageMaximumMinimum
°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
FPLQ 52%MCGILL 24%MAPAQ 24%
FGCAQ (Quebec Federation of Management Clubs )
CIAQ (Quebec AI Centre)
CQRL (Quebec Dairy Breeds Council)
University of Montreal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Laval University
Representatives from the Atlantic Region
One external administrator
Major FunctionsThe 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
PROVINCE ValactaPE NS NB NL QC Total
# Herds 209 245 225 39 6,353 7,071
# Herds using MR
124 155 154 5 5,083 5,521
% using MR 59.3 63.3 68.4 12.8 80.0 78.1
# Cows on MR 911812,95
912,06
9798 290,188 325,132
Average Herd Size
73.5 83.6 78.4 159.6 57.1 58.9
% Herds >50 64.3 71.1 65 100 47.5 49
% Milking Parlors
34.3 65.1 56.9 80 8.21 11.1
Distribution of Clientele
Field Services
Category NumberRegional Managers 7
Strategic Advisors 10Dairy Production Advisors 65*
Business Development Coaches 4Dairy Production Technicians 152**
Milk Quality Technicians 11
* 8 organic specialists** 36 CQM support** 21 CQM auditors
The largest dairy laboratory in North America
Research & DevelopmentMultidisciplinary team
Nutrition, Genetics, Comfort and welfare, Agroeconomist, Veterinarian, Goat milk production, Organic milk production,
Data analysis and Knowledge transfer.
What do cows need?
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)
• 75-90 cm (Dry-Transition)
Water
Water• Min 2 troughs/group• 60 cm per 15-20 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
yie
ld (
kg
/d)
27
32
36
41
45
49
7 10 13 17
y = 22.3 + 1.7 xr2 = 0.31
~1.7 kg/dmore milk foreach 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: 12-14 h/d“Vitamin R”Grant, 2010
Resting time
• Minimum 12 h/d
• To promote resting time:
– Stall width – Soft surface
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_tsdimen.htm
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)
R2=0.32
Milk yield = 20.4 + 7.5 x stall/cow
1.5 kg
Grant, 2010
Raising up
Dr Neil Anderson
Lying down
Dr Neil Anderson
Perching
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm
Source: M.F. Hutjens
Maximum 3 %
Standing or lying diagonally
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm
Lying backwards
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm
Agitation
Caudal licking behavior
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm
Comfortable walk
Dog-sitting
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_cowbehave.htm
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 curbMinimum 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-GranulométrieTest de la poignée
Sand
Vortex Holsteins
Matresses/bedding
La litière est toujours obligatoire… pour réduire l’abrasion
Space allocation
http://www.wilsonagri.co.uk/polypillow.htm
« Brisket positionner »Less than 10 cm
Commodus (Lely)
Commodus (Lely)
Logistalle
Logitalle
Logistalle
Greenstall
Greenstall
Neck
Acceptable(0-1)
unacceptable(2-3)
Neck injuries
score 0 = ok , 3 = swollen with or without lesion
MAPAQ
Lesion and hair losses
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_fsdimen.htm
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/hNo flies !
Fans
Light
LightDairy cows: 16 hours - 200 Lux
Dry cows: 8 hours-200 Lux
6 kg/d for first 9 weeks
Auchtung, 2005
Gracias!