With milking taking up over half the time spent on a dairy farm, even the smallest change in the farm dairy routine can stack up to important savings in time and money over the whole season, says DairyNZ animal husbandry
and welfare developer Chris Leach.
DairyNZ hosted a series of milksmart workshops, including in Stratford, on cow behaviour and cow flow that focused on the interaction between cows, people and infrastructure and getting them working together in
harmony.
``We need to look at the whole process starting in the paddock, the walk to the farm dairy, movement through the yard, into and out of the bail area and the return journey back to the paddock. When everything is right, people are happy, the cows are content, they move willingly and the system runs smoothly and efficiently.
``Good cow flow is not just desirable - it is essential if you want to be efficient.''
The workshops looked at how to assess a farm for cow flow, provide options for improving milking efficiency and tools to improve staff stockmanship. ``The focus is on how to find and fix issues with design and work routine that affect cow flow.''
One of the three presenters, Dr Neil Chesterton, a veterinarian in Inglewood specialising in cow flow and the importance of herd management on the farm tracks and in the milking shed, says it is all about keeping animals content and feeling safe. It is all common sense, he says, but sometimes it takes looking from the outside in
for farmers to see areas where they can improve.
``What we found, if the animals are happy there is good cow flow through the shed and the workers are happy, which results in lower staff turnover. Research has shown that milk production can increase by up to five per cent if cows are happy and content while being milked. Farmers can actually make money by keeping their herds happy.''
He says milk sheds should be designed around creating a comfortable and safe environment for the animals.
The workshop was very practical with farmers gauging the general guidelines with tapes and levels to work out why a certain design element will ensure better milk flow.
Good flow in the shed starts at the track. The general rule is that the width should be 1m per cow in the herd to up to seven metres, with a 3-5 per cent gradient for every 1m spirit level and a drop of no more than 5cm per metre of
width.
Yard and entrance:
The standing space in the yard is suggested to be 1.3 square metres per Jersey cow, 1.4 for crossbreeds and for Friesians, 1.5, which will give the animals space to change their walking order in the yard.
``It is normal animal behaviour. They do not necessarily go into the milking shed in the same order as which
they walked in.''
The entrance into the milking parlour, from the yard to the rotary platform should be little bit longer that one cow, and for herringbone sheds, two to four cows must have space to stand behind the cows being milked.
Neil suggests to also consider the pipe work, making sure it doesn't catch the cow on its hips as that can be quite painful. He says farmers should keep in mind that cows' balance point is their shoulder and that it frightens
them if anything approaches them from behind or to the side of that balance point.
``We have found that the height of the breast rail is very often the key to good flow in herringbone sheds; in getting the cows to come more freely. If too high it pushes against the cow's shoulder, hurting the cow.''
He suggests that for Friesians it should be no higher than 760mm and for Jerseys, 700mm.
For a rotary shed the bails should be 1.55-1.6m long with the breast rail around 800mm high.
Also keep in mind, he says, that the milking gate where the cows are let out, is at the right angle and that it does not push the cow's head back, not even slightly. ``If they feel comfortable they will go right up to the gate.'' He adds that a nib wall, to keep cows from slipping their legs over the bail edge, is highly recommended, as it will keep the
cows from injuring themselves.
The farmer should be able to operate the front gate from inside the pit to keep him from having to get in front of the shoulder, says Neil.
Standing area:
Neil strongly suggests adding an area where cows just milked can stand and chew their cud before they go back down the track. As a general rule, it should at least hold half the cows being milked. ``It makes cow flow much
more gentle if they do not need to move out immediately.''
Cow behaviour:
Neil says farmers should always keep in mind that cows differ from humans. Their depth of vision is half that of humans, which is why they spook easily if something suddenly appears from the side. Their ears are non-
directional and loud sounds coming from the side or back will also frighten them. ``A gentle tone always works best.''
Another point to remember is that it takes cows three to six weeks to adjust to changes in their environment. ``Something like a raincoat hanging over a fence can make the cows not trust their environment and hamper
the flow. It is essential all the staff stick to the same routine. It takes only one person to ruin the flow for everyone.''
He suggests stock hands spend time with the cows to lower their fear level.
The flight zone for cows with a low fear level is 2.3m, while you will not be able to get closer than 12 metres to a cow with a high fear level, says Neil.
``The bottom line is, if the cows feel safe, the flow is better.''
For info on better shed design and animal behaviour, see www.milksmart.co.nz
