Barns & Equipment

The old adage, “You are what you eat” has never been more relevant than when talking about dairy cattle. In fact, few would disagree quality silage is the most important feed source for dairy cattle.

As you’re working to improve cow comfort on your dairy, keep in mind what’s comfortable for you is not always comfortable for your cows. Dairy cows experience mild levels of heat stress when the temperature index is as low as 72ºF (see Table 1).

With today’s milk prices, you’re likely trying to find new places to save money on your dairy. While you work to tighten your farm’s belt, regular maintenance of the milking system is an area of your budget to protect.

Headlocks are a versatile feed front solution for any farm; they give any farm manager who walks on-site the ability to choose the management style that works for them.

When building a new freestall barn, what seems like a small decision in the designing phase can make or break efficiency later on. On the other hand, a few simple tweaks can save time and stress after the barn is built.

In the mid-2000s, cross ventilation was introduced as the “dairy housing of the future.” Agriculture engineer Joe Harner and his colleagues at Kansas State University pioneered the concept of these mechanically ventilated, low-profile barns.