Dairy cows
These are the main shelters for dairy cows. Depending on the farm's setup, cows might be kept in freestall barns (individual stalls with bedding), tie-stall barns (cows are tied in individual stalls), or pasture-based systems. These barns provide protection from harsh weather conditions and also offer a controlled environment for managing the cows' health and comfort.
Milking parlour
This is where the milking of cows takes place. Milking parlors can vary in design, with options like herringbone, parallel, or rotary parlors. Modern milking parlors often use automated milking machines that milk multiple cows simultaneously, ensuring efficiency and reducing labor.
Calfs
The calf rearing area. Young calves are typically kept separate from adult cows to ensure proper care and growth. Calf rearing facilities have individual pens or group housing systems and provide the necessary nutrition, warmth, and attention to help calves develop into healthy replacements for the milking herd.
Hygienic entry
Many farms that focus on biosecurity include a hygienic farm entry area, usually a disinfection gate or manual cleaning and disinfection are for trucks, goods or persons that enter the farm.
Biosecurity programsfor dairy farms
Dairy
Dairy cow barns
Biosecurity is crucial in maintaining the health and productivity of a dairy barn. It involves implementing practices and measures to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases, pathogens, and pests.
What’s important to create a biosecure dairy barn?
Healthy cows are more productive, live longer and need no treatment. The HyCare biosecurity program is aimed at implementing preventive measures to control pathogens and boost the cows health and immune systems.
Common challenges:
- Lameness: Caused by poor hoof health, inadequate flooring, and improper nutrition. Impacts milk production, reproductive performance, and cow welfare.
- Digital Dermatitis: Also known as “hairy warts”, ‘Italian foot rot’ and “Mortellaro” is one of the most frequent and painful claw diseases in dairy cattle.
- Mastitis: a dry living environment helps to prevent mastitis.
- Low quality drinking water: for every gallon of milk produced a cow needs to drink 4,5 gallons of water. The lower they drink to less milk is produced.
HyCare biosecurity programs for dairy cows
Optimal HoofCare
Healthy hooves are the foundation for proper water and feed intake in the dairy herd. Claw problems are a major negative influence on cow longevity. A lame cow often gets into a negative energy balance, which lowers her water and feed intake. This can also lead to fertility problems, which is another cause of premature dairy cow deaths.
The MS AutoHoofClean system is a fully automated system that is placed at the exit of the milking robot or in the return alley of a convential barn.
Two types of packages:
- Robot package: 6 feet mattress, 10 MS HoofClean jugs (5 gall) and a pump unit.
- Convential package: 10 feet mattress, MS HoofClean jugs (depends on the amount of cows) and a pump unit.
The pump unit is fully programmed so it knows when to fill the mat with MS HoofClean or a disinfectant. The mattress has a hard top layer with small holes so the chemical comes only out where the hoof will touch the mattress.
MS AutoHoofClean is a preventive and curative system against heel warts (digital dermatitis).
Dry living environment
The dry living environment program focuses mainly on maintaining clean and dry bedding for the cows to promote their comfort, health, and productivity while minimizing the risk of various health issues and promoting overall herd welfare.
- Reduced Skin and Udder Issues: Wet bedding can lead to skin irritation and udder infections. Moist conditions can promote the growth of bacteria and pathogens that can lead to mastitis, a common udder infection in dairy cows. Dry bedding helps minimize the risk of these infections.
- Prevention of Lameness: Wet and soiled bedding can lead to hoof problems and lameness. Hooves that are constantly exposed to wet conditions are more susceptible to issues like hoof rot and other infections. Dry bedding helps to prevent moisture-related hoof problems.
- Thermal Comfort: Dry bedding helps insulate cows from cold and damp conditions, providing a more comfortable environment. Cows that are exposed to prolonged cold and wet conditions can experience stress, suppressed immune function, and reduced milk production.
- Hygiene and Disease Prevention: Properly maintained dry bedding reduces the risk of bacterial and fungal growth. It helps to prevent the spread of diseases among cows and provides a cleaner environment for them to live in.
Clean drinking water
A cow needs to drink approximately 4.5 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of milk.
Access to clean, healthy and tasty drinking water ensures optimal water intake. A well-hydrated cow is more likely to maintain optimal milk production levels. Inadequate water intake can lead to reduced milk yield and altered milk composition.
The HyCare clean drinking water program ensures the availability of healthy drinking water at all times.
Healthy hooves are the foundation for proper water and feed intake in the dairy herd. Claw problems are a major negative influence on cow longevity. A lame cow often gets into a negative energy balance, which lowers her water and feed intake. This can also lead to fertility problems, which is another cause of premature dairy cow deaths.
The MS AutoHoofClean system is a fully automated system that is placed at the exit of the milking robot or in the return alley of a convential barn.
Two types of packages:
- Robot package: 6 feet mattress, 10 MS HoofClean jugs (5 gall) and a pump unit.
- Convential package: 10 feet mattress, MS HoofClean jugs (depends on the amount of cows) and a pump unit.
The pump unit is fully programmed so it knows when to fill the mat with MS HoofClean or a disinfectant. The mattress has a hard top layer with small holes so the chemical comes only out where the hoof will touch the mattress.
MS AutoHoofClean is a preventive and curative system against heel warts (digital dermatitis).
The dry living environment program focuses mainly on maintaining clean and dry bedding for the cows to promote their comfort, health, and productivity while minimizing the risk of various health issues and promoting overall herd welfare.
- Reduced Skin and Udder Issues: Wet bedding can lead to skin irritation and udder infections. Moist conditions can promote the growth of bacteria and pathogens that can lead to mastitis, a common udder infection in dairy cows. Dry bedding helps minimize the risk of these infections.
- Prevention of Lameness: Wet and soiled bedding can lead to hoof problems and lameness. Hooves that are constantly exposed to wet conditions are more susceptible to issues like hoof rot and other infections. Dry bedding helps to prevent moisture-related hoof problems.
- Thermal Comfort: Dry bedding helps insulate cows from cold and damp conditions, providing a more comfortable environment. Cows that are exposed to prolonged cold and wet conditions can experience stress, suppressed immune function, and reduced milk production.
- Hygiene and Disease Prevention: Properly maintained dry bedding reduces the risk of bacterial and fungal growth. It helps to prevent the spread of diseases among cows and provides a cleaner environment for them to live in.
A cow needs to drink approximately 4.5 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of milk.
Access to clean, healthy and tasty drinking water ensures optimal water intake. A well-hydrated cow is more likely to maintain optimal milk production levels. Inadequate water intake can lead to reduced milk yield and altered milk composition.
The HyCare clean drinking water program ensures the availability of healthy drinking water at all times.
Contact our dairy manager
Martijn Schippers
Martijn Schippers is the General Manager for Schippers USA and the manager for dairy and poultry.