Quality, Care, Comfort Today s California Dairies 3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite D Modesto, CA 95358 800-871-3444
Care of Dairy Cows in California The California dairy industry is committed to producing the highest quality dairy products. Because dairy herd performance reflects the quality of care received at every stage of the production cycle, dairy farmers throughout the state rely on proven best management practices to maintain the health and welfare of their dairy cows. Milk production in California has been on a steady increase during the past 20 years thanks to improvements in genetics, nutrition, milking systems, facility design, health programs and management. In fact, California dairy farmers are responsible for organizing the first-ever volunteer certification program in the nation, the California Dairy Quality Assurance (CDQA) program. Farmers involved in the program are working with state environmental and regulatory officials to secure optimal dairy management practices. The following examples of best management practices in the care and feeding of the lactating dairy cow was developed by the University of California Cooperative Extension. While the typical best practices in California vary due to factors that influence production decisions (such as topography/ geography, weather, herd size and technological systems), these examples demonstrate the industry s commitment to quality standards. FACILITIES Proper facility design is necessary to provide comfort, proper nutrition and health of a milking herd. Design takes into account weather since temperatures below 40 F can adversely affect lactating cows. On the other end of the spectrum, temperatures greater than 75 F can also adversely affect cow comfort and performance. Dairy farmers have responded by developing management practices that provide a safe and comfortable environment for their animals. In California, many dairy barns have pitched roofs and open sides to provide air flow and ventilation. Low speed, high-volume fans are recommended to enhance air flow and optimize temperature. Misters are also used for cooling during warm summer months. Some dairies provide soakers, which release water directly on the cow for quick cooling, and research conducted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reports that 55 percent of dairies incorporate misters. A combination of natural and electric lighting provides an environment for dairy farmers to observe and detect problems with animals in the barn. Freestalls CDFA research shows that nearly half of California dairy operations use newer, well-designed freestall barns. A freestall is an individual cow bedding area where partitions are used for comfort and sanitation and to protect the cow from injury. The freestall gives the cow a dry, comfortable place to lie down to rest, digest and ruminate. Freestalls provide individual beds for each cow, and as the name reflects, the cow is free to enter and exit. They are designed and maintained to accommodate movement for an average-sized cow. Bedding is a significant investment and operating decision for the dairy farmer. Bedding materials must take into account cow comfort, sanitation, manure management, disease prevention, cost, availability and maintenance. The stalls are intended to stay dry and prevent the growth of bacterial pathogens. At the same time, bedding should be soft and resilient for comfort to encourage optimum rest and performance. According to CDFA, many farms utilize composted manure for bedding material. Sand, rubber matting, almond hulls, rice hulls, straw or other agricultural byproducts are also efficient and effective materials for bedding. The surface that a cow walks on makes a difference in her long term health. Many dairies now place rubber mats both in the milking parlor and along alleyways where cows stand to feed. Most rubber mats are grooved to improve traction and avoid accidents. Manure Management An important component in the design of freestall barns is manure management. CDFA reports that most freestall barns are designed with flush alleyways that adjoin the stalls to allow for manure removal during twice-daily cleanings. This flush system gathers the manure and separates the solid material from the liquid. Recycling is a major part of the dairy operation. Many of the captured manure solids are dried for future use in bedding and liquids are flushed through to a holding facility called a lagoon where they can be used again in the flush operations or applied to feed crops. This system allows dairy producers to control cleanliness of their herd and utilize manure as natural fertilizer by reducing or eliminating the need for purchasing commercial fertilizer products. 1
Care of Dairy Cows in California /continued In addition, an exercise yard is maintained by regular cleaning and scraping of the dry lot area. The solid manure from this yard is composted and recycled on the dairy in such places as bedding. Several dairies are constructing anaerobic digesters, a system that promotes the decomposition of manure to simple organics and biogas. Manure is regularly scraped or pumped into the digester after which the microbes break it down to form biogas which ultimately can be used in an engine generator or burned in a modified hot water heater. It is anticipated that digesters will create enough energy to supply the needs of the dairy with a surplus that can be used for other local needs. NUTRITION As outlined by the National Research Council s Nutrient Requirement for Dairy Cattle, each cow should receive a balanced ration including energy, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Careful management of the body reserves of dairy cows is crucial to efficient milk production because body fat is a necessary and important energy source. The dairy farmer typically utilizes byproduct feeds from other commodities and industries to economically meet nutrient requirements of its cattle. These feedstuffs are mixed through consultation of professional nutritionists into a Total Mixed Ration to provide optimal herd nutrition and performance. Feed Bunks and Water Configuration of feeding mangers, including the placement and width per cow in the freestall barns, is important when it comes to reducing stress and increasing comfort for dairy cows. The feed manger extends the length of the barn to provide adequate space for cows to eat at their leisure, and the manger is cleaned regularly so that feed is always fresh. Water must be fresh, clean and readily available. A dairy cow consumes about six gallons of water per gallon of milk produced daily. If a cow is producing 70 pounds of milk a day, she will consume an average of up to 50 gallons of water. Water troughs are cleaned regularly. HEALTH CARE AND MANAGEMENT Dairy care and overall herd management supports animal health regimens and illness prevention tools. While many dairy producers have a strong understanding of specific symptoms that indicate an animal may be ill, the farmers and herd managers maintain regular communication with large animal veterinarians who provide vaccinations and preventive medicine programs for the dairy and administer other veterinary health care when needed. Identification, Monitoring and Records Herd health is important to the viability of the herd. Since consistent milk production indicates a healthy animal, dairy producers track herd health by permanently identifying each cow and keeping records of cow production through each lactation. These records are also used to evaluate efficiencies of the dairy operations as they relate to overall production. Veterinarians also maintain records to track improvements and administer care for each animal. At each visit, the veterinarian will consult with the dairy farmer or herd manager to determine concerns with health. Dairy producers and their herd managers constantly watch animal behavior and check for symptoms of possible conditions that require veterinary consultation. Cows are milked two to three times a day and at each three- to five-minute session they are checked by trained personnel for any signs of health problems. Treatment Facilities Each dairy houses a special hospital pen designed to isolate and treat sick animals. This separated facility enables effective observation and treatment. If animals are injured, this facility allows for personal care and attention. Milk from treated animals is kept separate and does not enter the dairy milk supply for processing. MILKING EQUIPMENT & PROCEDURES Dairy producers pay a lot of attention to the design of a dairy parlor and the milking procedures. Milking parlors have clean floors, good traction and proper illumination for added safety and hygiene. Milking equipment is maintained regularly and sanitized before and after each milking. While equipment can vary depending on technological advancement, newer milking machines use digital monitoring systems to record production and control the milking process. To prepare cows for milking, their udders are cleaned in an adjoining facility. Before and after milking, a sanitation solution is applied to the cow s udders, and then the animals return to the freestall for food, water and rest. 2
California s Modern Dairy 3
Descriptions of The Modern California Dairy A. Freestall Barns offer many comforts for cows, including shade, protection from the environment, individual beds, fresh water and plenty of food. Flush systems are incorporated around the perimeter of a freestall barn to provide continuous waste removal and management. B. Similar to consumers selecting mattresses for sleeping, dairy producers integrate dry, comfortable Bedding such as sand, rubber matting or a mixture of dried manure and almond hulls to provide a comfortable resting area for cows. In addition, bedding offers dairy producers a way to manage the environment and control herd health, prevent disease and enhance overall animal comfort. In fact, many dairy producers even change the bedding according to the weather for added comfort. C. Water Misters and Fans are climate control tools used to maintain cow comfort in hot weather. Dairies sometimes install advanced versions of misters, called soakers, which disperse more water, providing a cooling splash on hot days. D. Water Troughs and Feed Mangers continuously offer fresh, clean drinking water and nutritious food for cows an essential component to high quality milk production in lactating animals. E. In order to determine optimal feed requirements for the herd, dairy producers employ professional Nutritionists to develop a dairy herd nutrition plan using a total mixed ration (TMR) of feed stored in the Commodity Barn. This ration offers a scientific analysis of feedstuffs such as cottonseed, almond hulls, alfalfa and corn, designed to provide a balanced diet for dairy cows. F. Manure is collected by a Flush System, which washes manure through a Separator, dividing the solid fibers from the liquid. The liquid then moves to the Wastewater Lagoon where it is stored and prepared for land application as fertilizer on agricultural land and crops. The separated manure fibers are dried and incorporated into bedding mixtures or sold for uses in other industries. Manurewater holding facilities are carefully constructed and operated in coordination with water and nutrient management officials. G. The Maternity Ward area offers extra comfort and care to cows giving birth and their newborns. If needed, a Veterinarian is on call to assist with needs regarding medical or healthrelated concerns. H. Cows that require special veterinary care are segregated from the milking herd into Hospital Pens to provide personal care to animals with an illness, and to ensure health of the overall herd. I. Even though a cow is only in the Milking Parlor three to five minutes per milking (on average), the pulse of the dairy farm is a busy place. Parlors vary in size ranging from 10 cows to 50 cows per milking cycle. Dairy producers often have fans and misters on the animals during the milking process. Additionally, many dairies install rubber matting on the floor to provide sure footing and added comfort as cows enter the parlor. J. The Wash & Prep Area is where the cows udders are cleaned and prepared for milking. A Herdsman carefully monitors the parlor and milking process to ensure animal safety and comfort and to provide technical and mechanical support for the milking equipment. K. Contrary to popular belief, the Exercise Lot is probably the area of the dairy the cows frequent the least. Its purpose is to provide cows an opportunity to move around, digest their food and ruminate. However, most cows actually choose to spend most of their time lying in their freestall beds or eating. 4
Animal Scientist Summary: The Modern California Dairy The question is often asked, What does a typical California dairy look like? While there is no typical due to climate, topography and other natural conditions, a group of animal scientists who work with dairies on a daily basis provided insight on today s dairies. Description of Dairies Most of today s new dairies are freestall operations, consisting of individual stalls for the added comfort and health of each cow. These freestall dairies possess technologically advanced systems, including tools such as misters and fans for added cow comfort. In addition, most herds are fed a Total Mixed Ration which provides an optimal diet. Today s sophisticated dairy producers also incorporate flush systems using water and lagoons for manure management. Veterinary Care/Practices A close relationship with a licensed veterinary practitioner is integral to the modern dairy operation. Veterinarians conduct regular visits for calf vaccination, palpations, records evaluation, herdsman training, performance and nutritional evaluations, as well as reproductive evaluations. In addition, veterinarians work with dairy producers to improve the health of their animals through mastitis management and disease prevention. Veterinarians are also called on for emergency surgeries, including sick cow treatments and calving difficulties. Today s veterinarians even help develop bio-security programs. Nutrition Consultations On average, nutritionists visit the dairy two times per month. They assess milk production and the feeding plan, and they work with the dairyman on nutritional options to increase production and maximize the health of the cow. Cow Comfort Mechanisms Most experts rank the following top five cow comfort tools as important improvements on the dairy: 1. Fans/misters over feed bunk during summer months 2. Freestalls with adequate room for cows, shade and proper bedding 3. Rubber mats in walkways/grooves in concrete flooring 4. Feet trimming on a regular cycle 5. Maintenance of dry lot for exercise Bedding Most dairies recycle dried manure and other compost, such as rice hulls or almond hulls for bedding. Sand and artificial bedding options (such as rubber mats, mattresses and waterbeds) are innovations some dairies are implementing in freestalls for cow comfort. Maintenance Continuous maintenance is essential on a dairy. Daily, dairy producers groom the freestall bedding and rake the exercise lots. On a weekly basis, water troughs are refreshed and disinfected. Repair work such as fixing fencing, sprinklers, fans, misters and maternity pens, among other things is constantly maintained. Best Practices New dairies being constructed in California are able to implement the latest technological innovations to provide top-notch comfort and wellbeing of the herd. Many dairies keep detailed records, continually work on maintenance of hygiene and sanitation and utilize overall structural improvements and modern management practices to provide first-rate cow comfort on the dairy. The California dairy industry has some of the best management practices in the country. Much of its success is due to the funding of research that covers everything from new vaccines to technological advances in milking machines. 26151-0308 5