Assessing Cow Comfort

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Assessing Cow Comfort
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Cow Comfort

• Integrates facility design, animal behavior and
  animal welfare
• Affects almost every other aspect of cow and herd
  performance
• Feed intake
• Growth rates
• Milk production
• Herd health
• Reproductive efficiency

3
Factors Affecting Cow Comfort

• Adequacy of stalls
• Choice of bedding
• Feed and water accessibility
• Quality of walking surfaces
• Adequacy of ventilation
• Heat abatement
• Adequacy of lighting
• Control of stray voltage

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Assessing Cow Comfort

• Indirect measurements
• Air changes
• Stall dimensions
• Bedding quality
• Direct assessments
• Taken directly from cow behaviors

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Four Primary Resting Positions

• Wide position
• Partial lateral recumbancy
• One or both front legs extended
• Narrow position
• Sternal recumbancy, head high
• One or both front legs tucked under chest
• Short position
• Sternal recumbancy
• Both front legs tucked under chest
• Head laid back against flank
• Long position
• Sternal recumbancy
• Both front legs extended

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Fig 43-1. Cows assuming the wide resting position
extend both rear legs and forelegs (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
7
Fig 43-2. A variation on the wide resting
position - the dead cow position (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
8
Fig 43-3. Cows spend more time in the narrow
resting position than any other resting position
(Courtesy of Iowa State University)
9
Fig 43-4. Cows in the short resting position tuck
their heads back against their flank (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
10
Fig 43-5. Cows restrained by rope or chain ties
must have adequate tie length to assume the short
resting position (Courtesy of Howard Tyler)
11
Fig 43-6. In the long resting position, the
forelegs are extended in front of this crossbred
cow (Courtesy of Iowa State University)
12
Fig 43-7. Cows also assume unique combinations of
resting positions such as the wide short position
(Courtesy of Howard Tyler)
13
Laying and Rising Issues

• Cow always lie into a slope and lay uphill
• Ideally, cows will lie down for over 14 hours
  daily
• Reductions in lying time by as little as two
  hours reduces cow performance
• When rising, cows must lunge forward
• Use knees as a pivot point
• Transfers weight off of rear legs
• Allows cow to raise hindquarters first

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Stall Design

• Critical stall design considerations include
• Provide spacious yet defined resting space
• Ensure that cow can assume all normal resting
  positions
• Provide adequate lunge and bob space
• Provide adequate bedding
• Cushion
• Friction reduction

15
Fig 43-8. The challenge for these cows was not
entering the stall, but will be apparent when
they attempt to leave (Courtesy of Iowa State
University)
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Importance of Bedding

• Adequate cushion
• Encourage stall use
• Maximize resting time
• Reduction in friction
• Especially during laying or rising behaviors
• Resistance to microbial growth
• Organic vs. inorganic beddings
• Removal of moisture from cow

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Bedding Choices

• Sand
• Gold standard
• Difficult to handle in some manure management
  systems
• Straw
• Shavings
• Hulls
• Shredded newspaper

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Fig 43-9. Sand is an excellent inorganic bedding
option, providing excellent cushion
characteristics without promoting bacterial
growth (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-10. Straw is an excellent bedding material
if it is kept clean and deep (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
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Bedding Considerations

• Depth should be at least six inches
• Bedding should be maintained level with the
  outside curb
• Inadequate bedding leads to medial hock lesions
• Use bedding to maintain proper slope to stall
  (front to back)
• Cows dig out bedding more in uncomfortable stalls
  than in comfortable stalls

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Fig 43-11. In most facilities, fresh bedding
should be added to stalls on a daily basis
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
22
Fig 43-12. Inadequate bedding exposes the curb
and increases the risk of serious leg abrasions
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
23
Fig 43-13. Cows can get trapped under stall
partitions if bedding levels get too low
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-14. This stall, although well-groomed, is
inadequately bedded. The low level of bedding
creates lunging barriers for cows and restricts
stall use (Courtesy of Monsanto)
25
Fig 43-15. Medial hock lesions typically indicate
issues with stall comfort (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-16. Cows will lay uphill, even if it
requires backing into stalls (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
27
Fig 43-17. Digging behaviors are a response to
uncomfortable stalls (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
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Mattresses

• Popular alternative to other beddings
• Still require some bedding
• Friction reduction
• Moisture removal
• Presewn tubes prevent shifting of materials
  (usually shredded rubber) within mattresses
• Permanent choice
• Requires concrete stall base
• Difficult to shift to a deep-bedded option

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Fig 43-18. Well-designed stall mattresses provide
adequate cushion, but still require a minimal
amount of bedding for friction reduction as well
as to keep cows dry (Courtesy of Monsanto)
30
Fig 43-19. Pre-sewn tubes in mattresses prevent
shifting of materials inside the mattress and
uncomfortable stall surfaces (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
31
Fig 43-20. Mattresses are typically installed
directly on a concrete platform, making it
extremely challenging to change to a deep-bedded
option if so desired (Courtesy of Monsanto)
32
Sand Bedding Usage Rates

• Daily usage rates can exceed 70 pounds per stall
• Bedding savers can reduce useage by as much as
  75
• More difficult to clean if stalls not
  well-maintained
• Fine sand works better than coarse sand

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Fig 43-21. Sand savers are simply a series of
linked stiff rubber belts or strips from used
tires that restrict sand movement out of the
stall (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-22. Sand savers can greatly reduce sand
use in stalls without reducing comfort, if
properly installed and maintained (Courtesy of
Monsanto)
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Assessing Stall Function

• In well-designed, well-maintained facilities
• Over 90 of cows lie down within two or three
  hours after milking
• At any time, over 80 of cows that are not eating
  or drinking are lying down
• Minimal hock lesions and joint swelling
• Clean cows
• Low incidence of lameness and mastitis
• Easier estrus detection
• More milk production

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Assessing Stall Function

• Main reasons stalls not used properly
• Lack of adequate lunge space
• Improper neck rail placement
• Lack of adequate cushion
• Lack of ventilation at the stall

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Fig 43-23. Cows in a comfortable environment will
lay down within a few hours of milking (Courtesy
of Mark Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-24. It is easy to recognize facilities
with well-designed comfortable stalls (Courtesy
of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-25. The cows provide the best indication
of the adequacy of these free stalls (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
40
Fig 43-26. A poorly designed outside row in a
freestall barn that does not provide an
opportunity for either forward or side lunging
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-27. Because forward lunge space is
limited, partitions between stalls in the outside
rows in six row freestall barns should permit
side lunging (Courtesy of Mark Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-28. A front view clearly demonstrates how
low neck rails can impede access to stalls
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Signs of Uncomfortable Stalls

• Refusal to use stalls
• High percentage of cows standing
• Often with front feet in stalls and back feet in
  alleys
• Abnormal behaviors as cows enter or leave stalls
• Difficulty in assuming normal resting positions
• Difficulties in standing from a lying position
• Backing into stalls
• Lying on the stall curb
• Apprehensive behaviors prior to entering stall

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Fig 43-29. The concrete barrier between these
stalls impairs stall usage and also impairs
airflow to stalls (Courtesy of Mark Kirkpatrick)
45
Fig 43-30. Cows standing half in and half out of
stalls clearly indicates a defect in stall design
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
46
Fig 43-31. These cows are prevented from fully
accessing the stall by the neck rail that is too
low to permit easy access (Courtesy of Monsanto)
47
Fig 43-32. This retrofit for neckrails is easily
adjustable and will not harm cows if they are too
low (Courtesy of Monsanto)
48
Fig 43-33. Stanchions restrict cow movement such
that they cannot assume the short resting
position (Courtesy of Iowa State University)
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Inadequate Stall Space

• Cows in stalls with inadequate lunge space often
  lie at an angle in stall
• Creates space issues in neighboring stall
• Increases fecal contamination in stalls
• Two approaches to solve problem
• Narrow the stall
• Forces cow to lie straight in stall
• Moves cow back in stall to create lunge space
• Cow hangs rear leg and tail off back of curb,
  increasing hock lesions and contaminating stall
• Open front of stall
• Allows cow to lie further forward in stall
• Solves cleanliness and cow comfort issues

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Fig 43-34. This cow is resting half-in the stall
to avoid lying downhill in this poorly maintained
stall (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-35. The cow in this poorly designed and
bedded stall has no place to lunge when rising
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-36. The pain encountered when lunging to
rise will eventually discourage stall use in this
facility (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-37. Barriers that restrict lunge space
result in painful experiences associated with
stall use, and eventually declines in stall use
by cows (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-38. This short stall with a high brisket
board has forced this cow to lie at an angle in
the stall (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-39. These free stalls are too narrow,
moving cows backwards and resulting in cows
hanging into the alley (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-40. Cows will rest with one leg dangling
off the back of the stall platform if it is
designed too short or too narrow (Courtesy of
Mark Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-41. Cows that drag one leg on and off the
stall platform in uncomfortable stalls often
develop medial hock lesions (Courtesy of Mark
Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-42. Cows in uncomfortable stalls will drag
manure from the alley into the stall bed as they
drag their rear leg on and off the stall platform
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-43. Removing barriers between stalls
ensure adequate space for lunging and improve
stall usage (Courtesy of Mark Kirkpatrick)
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Fig 43-44. Free stalls should be designed to
minimize barriers between stalls, which minimizes
impediments to lunging (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Brisket Boards

• Function to position the cow properly in the
  stall
• If installed too high or bedding is not
  well-maintained, brisket boards can create a
  barrier
• Block cow from assuming long resting position
• Cow extends leg laterally rather than forward,
  becomes more restless, and increases hind leg
  movements
• Increased risk of hock lesions

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Fig 43-45. Brisket boards are used to position
the cow in the stall (Courtesy of Monsanto)
63
Fig 43-46. Brisket boards can be easily
retrofitted into most facilities with a little
ingenuity (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-47. Brisket boards in poorly bedded stalls
will provide a barrier to the long resting
position (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-48. In a properly bedded stall, the
brisket board should be barely visible (Courtesy
of Monsanto)
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Tie Stalls

• Chain length is crucial to cow comfort
• Short chains
• Prevent cow from assuming short resting position
• Increased restlessness, decreased lying time
• Increased the incidence of silent heats
• Increased challenges in heat detection

67
Fig 43-49. Extending the chain length in older
tie stalls will allow cows to assume the short
resting position (Courtesy of Iowa State
University)
68
Walking Surfaces

• Ease of mobility affects cow comfort and hoof
  health
• Methods to improve footing
• Grooving concrete surfaces
• Adhering rubber belting to concrete surfaces
• Improve foot health and longevity
• Expensive and hard to maintain
• Provide access to dirt lots or pastures

69
Fig 43-50. Crosscut groove patterns enhance
drainage and prevent slipping (Courtesy of
Monsanto)
70
Figure 43-51. Grooves that are cut at about three
inch intervals optimize footing surface (Courtesy
of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-52. The rubber belting installed in this
cow alley provides greater cushion to the hoof,
potentially decreasing the incidence of lameness
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-53. Rubber belting provides a comfortable
surface for walking (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-54. Cows show a marked preference for
walking on belted areas rather than concrete
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-55. Rubber mats must be securely fastened
to a concrete surface (Courtesy of Howard Tyler)
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Self-Locking Headlocks

• Enhances cow accessibility for routine procedures
  (breeding, vaccinations)
• Can potentially affect feed accessibility if
  improperly designed or installed
• Feed bunk barrier should be less than 18 inches
• For larger breeds, no more than four headlocks
  per ten feet of bunk space
• For smaller breeds, no more than five headlocks
  per ten feet of bunk space

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Fig 43-56. Self-locking headcatches need to be
properly spaced and installed at the proper
height to avoid affecting feed intake (Courtesy
of Iowa State University)
77
Feedbunk Accessibility

• Minimize barriers that affect cows ability to
  reach feed
• Slope barrier from cow side (18 inches) to feed
  side (14 inches)
• Enhances ability to reach feed further from
  barrier
• Reduces neck abrasions
• Feed at ground level
• Cows eating with heads down produce more saliva
• Reduces feed tossing and feed waste
• Smooth bunk surface
• Adequate space on cow side of feed barrier

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Fig 43-57. The cables in front of this feed bunk
limit cow access to feed and ultimately limit
milk production (Courtesy of Iowa State
University)
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Fig 43-58. Proper placement of cables or
restraining bars decreases the risk of injury to
cows (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Fig 43-59. The closely spaced vertical bars at
this feed bunk provide an effective barrier to
maximal feed intake (Courtesy of Iowa State
University)
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Fig 43-60. The widely spaced and slanted bars on
this elevated feedbunk are not a barrier to
intake and also reduce feed wastage by cows
(Courtesy of USDA-ARS)
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Fig 43-61. Cows eating from elevated bunks will
waste more feed than those eating at ground level
(Courtesy of Iowa State University)
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Fig 43-62. Bunk liners increase dry matter intake
leading to increases in milk yield (Courtesy of
Mark Kirkpatrick)
84
Fig 43-63. The cow-side of this feedbunk allows
space for cows to eat without being disrupted by
cows exiting and entering freestalls (Courtesy of
John Smith)
85
Water Accessibility

• Shared water bowls reduce intake by submissive
  cows
• Waterers in crossovers
• Make sure crossover is at least 12 feet wide
• Narrow crossovers create drinking issues
• Place waterer outside of traffic pattern
• Cows indicate problems by reducing intake and
  altering drinking behavior
• Cows should drink rather than lap
• Typically drink 15 times daily

86
Fig 43-64. Water troughs at crossovers in a
freestall barn. (Courtesy of John Smith)
87
Ventilation

• At least 100 feet of space between buildings
• High sidewalls, curtains and open ridge vents
  facilitate natural ventilation
• In poorly ventilated barns
• Cows congregate near doorways
• Stall use decreased
• Mechanical ventilation required in many
  situations
• Older facilities with solid walls and low ceilings

88
Fig 43-65. The spacing between these two-row
barns in Kansas permits adequate airflow to
maintain proper building ventilation (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
89
Fig 43-66. Air flows in through the high
sidewalls and the thermal buoyancy from heat
generated by cows moves air up and out the barn
ridge vent (Courtesy of Monsanto)
90
Heat Stress

• Heat stress occurs when heat load exceeds cows
  ability to lose heat
• Heat load is combination of heat generated by cow
  metabolically and heat imposed on cow by
  environment
• Mild heat stress when temperature-humidity index
  (THI) gt 70
• Severe heat stress when THI gt 90

91
Effects of Heat Stress
Increase respiration rate Increase rectal
temperature Increase water intake Increase
sweating Decrease blood flow to internal
organs Decrease milk production Decrease rate of
passage Decrease dry matter intake Decrease
reproductive performance
92
Effect of Heat Stress on Digestive Function
Heat Stress
DMI
Slobbering
Less Saliva to Rumen
Less Total Saliva
Less Salivary Buffer to Rumen
Rumen pH
93
Heat Abatement

• Methods of exchanging heat with environment
• Evaporation
• Panting (primary route in cow)
• Sweating (not as effective)
• Convection (exchange with air)
• Improved dramatically as air flow increases
• Conduction (exchange with physical surface)
• Cooling ponds
• Radiant heat exchange
• Providing shade to reduce radiant heat load

94
Fig 43-67. Panting by heat stressed cows cools
inspired air and removes heat across the lung
tissue by evaporative cooling (Courtesy of Iowa
State University)
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Heat Dissipation

• From 0 to 50? F, 75 of heat loss is
  non-evaporative
• Above 70 F, Most heat loss is via evaporative
  cooling

97
Fans

• Only effective if ambient temperature is lower
  than cows temperature or if cow is wet
• Should provide air velocity of 400-600 feet per
  minute (FPM)
• Overhead fans spaced depending on fan size and
  cow density
• Tilt at 30 degree angle to optimize air/cow heat
  exchange potential
• Place over feeding areas, stalls, holding areas

98
Fig 43-68. Properly installed fans help cool cows
via convective heat exchange (Courtesy of John
Smith)
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Fig 43-69. Although sidewalls are not required in
hot climates, fans must be used to move air
because natural ventilation is ineffective in hot
weather (Courtesy of Monsanto)
100
Fig 43-70. Fan density is increased
proportionally with animal density, as in this
holding pen (Courtesy of John Smith)
101
Fig 43-71. Poorly maintained fans will lose much
of their ability to move air effectively
(Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Foggers and Sprinklers

• Sprinklers pump water through low-pressure pumps
  and cool cow directly
• Wet cow periodically, typically while fans run
  continuously
• Inexpensive to install and maintain
• Use lots of water, wet the area around cow
• Foggers use high pressure to pump water
• Cool air, cooling cow indirectly
• Less water on cow and surrounding area
• More expensive to install and maintain

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Fig 43-72. Sprinklers at feeding areas are
effective for both cooling cows and increasing
feed intake (Courtesy of Iowa State University)
105
Fig 43-73. This cow soaker is designed to wet
cows in a short period and then allow a period of
intense evaporative heat loss (Courtesy of
Howard Tyler)
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Fig 43-74. Foggers operate by applying water to
the air where it vaporizes, absorbing the heat
and cooling the air, which is then blown across
the cow (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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109
Fig 43-75. Misters are designed to cool air
rather than cool cows (Courtesy of Iowa State
University)
110
Fig 43-76. Misting systems cool air without
wetting cows or their surroundings if properly
designed and maintained, allowing their use where
sprinklers are problematic (Courtesy of Monsanto)
111
Shade

• Reduces radiant heat load
• Mature trees provide natural shade
• Must provide protection from overuse
• Mechanical shade used where cows are otherwise
  unprotected for extended periods of time
• Can be permanent or mobile

112
Fig 43-77. These large trees provide a ready
source of natural shade, but the high animal
density around their base can damage or kill them
if access is not controlled (Courtesy of Monsanto)
113
Fig 43-78. Providing shade is a remarkably cheap
and effective method of heat abatement (Courtesy
of Monsanto)
114
Fig 43-79. This permanent shade structure is
shading the alley rather than the stalls for most
of the day. Thorough planning is critical to
success in any endeavor (Courtesy of John Smith)
115
Fig 43-80. The provision of temporary shade over
feed areas will encourage feed intake and reduce
heat stress, both of which enhance animal
performance (Courtesy of Monsanto)
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Methods to Reduce Heat Stress

• Genetics
• Water availability
• proper locations
• clean and cool
• Reduce walking distance
• Provide shade
• housing area
• holding pen

• Milking center
• reduce time in holding pen
• properly ventilated
• holding pen cooling
• exit lane cooling
• Cool feeding and housing

118
Priorities for Cooling Cows

• Water availability
• Sprayer locations
• Free style barn design

119
Lighting

• Visual acuity of cow dependent on intensity of
  light
• Cannot see effectively through areas of shade and
  light
• Reluctance to cross deep gutters (cattle
  crossings)
• Reluctance to enter shaded entrances from bright
  sunlight or cross areas of intense light in
  otherwise dark barns

120
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122
Stray Voltage

• Excessive voltage between tow animal contact
  points
• Cows are good conductors (long bodied)
• Can be caused by defective electrical equipment,
  faulty wiring, bad connections, or multiple 120V
  motors on same line
• Potential cow issues with stray voltage in
  parlor
• Reluctance to enter area (avoidance behaviors)
• Nervousness, stepping constantly
• Uneven milk letdown, increased mastitis