The advantages of a good and safe dairy environment include:
- Maximise cow flow and smooth movement
- Reduce lameness and injuries
- Address welfare issues
- Less fear in the animals
- Better production and speed of let-down
Cows are creatures of habit and they respond better if they have a routine that is consistent and predictable. While an unfamiliar feature of the dairy may initially provoke moderate fear, cows will learn to become familiar with that feature over time. If factors are constantly changing, a cow will not be able to adjust and the cow's sensitivity will be heightened, making the cow overly fearful of people or particular location or physical structure.
Summary of a good dairy set up
The dairy needs a good entry, exit and platform to ensure smooth access and no surprises.
Eliminate all factors that could cause cows to shy away from the dairy entry or exit such as:
- Poor lighting
- Slippery floor surfaces
- Sharp turns
- Pipework and posts (check all pipework in the dairy to ensure it isn’t causing cows pain or discomfort.)
- Inadequate space allowances e.g. the first bail in herringbones or an unsuitably angled head gate.
Learn about cow behaviour to help you understand how the handling of cows can affect their willingness to enter the dairy.
Observe cows during a milking to see if platform design, including pipework and layout, encourages good cow flow on entry and exit.