3 - Dairy Housing and Management in Ruminant Production

Dairy Housing

• Conducive to health, production, comfort, make management convenient, economical

• Most cow buildings are planned with the comfort and convenience of the man in view rather than the cow

• No single plan is best for all dairymen

1. Stanchion Barn

2. Loose Housing

3. Free Stall

3 Types of Dairy Housing

Stanchion Barn

● Each cow is tied in a _________, tie stall or comfort stall most of the time, except when grazing.

● Cows may be milked in the _________ or in a milking room.

1. Two-Story Barn

2. Single-Story Barn

2 Types of Stanchion Barn

Loose Housing

Cows freely move between resting and feeding areas.

Free Stall

Individual resting areas with separate feeding spaces.

Two-story Barn

Feed stored above for gravity-fed distribution.

Single-story Barn

Used for hay and silage, easier to maintain.

Calf Housing

Designed for easy cleaning to reduce mortality.

Calf Pen Size

Minimum 2.2 m² for individual calf housing.

Growing Dairy Cattle Space

4.0-6.5 m² per head in paved lots.

Milking Herd Space

9-19 m² per head depending on lot type.

Milking Parlor

Facility for efficient milking operations.

Floor-level Milking System

Operator at same level as cows for milking.

Elevated Stall System

Cows milked from elevated positions for efficiency.

Herringbone Milking Parlor

Cows arranged in a V-shape for milking.

Robotic Milking System

Automated system for milking cows individually.

Water Requirements

10-15 gallons/day per dairy animal.

Feed Bunk Specifications

Dimensions vary for small and large cattle.

Manure Management

Systems for handling and disposing of waste.

Foot Bath

Disinfectant bath for cows and visitors.

Fencing Requirements

3-4 strands of wire for stock control.