By Jessi Sokolic
“The rule to be observed in this stable at all times, toward the cattle, young and old, is that of patience and kindness. A man’s usefulness in a herd ceases at once when he loses his temper and bestows rough usage. Men must be patient. Cattle are not reasoning beings. Remember that this is the Home of Mothers. Treat each cow as a Mother should be treated. The giving of milk is a function of Motherhood: rough treatment lessens the flow. That injures me as well as the cow. Always keep these ideas in mind in dealing with my cattle.” - W.D. Hoard, 1885
This quote was taken from the dairy industry’s leading publication, Hoards Dairyman. The publication found it’s beginning on January 23, 1885, when William Dempster Hoard, considered the “father of American dairying”, wrote his first issue of a “journal devoted to dairy farming.” While this quote was spoken 125 years ago, it still rings true in the dairy barns of today. Today’s dairymen are just as concerned, if not more concerned, with the health and well being of their herd. With advance improvements in research and technology, we have learned that the smallest of stressors can effect milk production. To decrease the amount of stressors the dairy cow comes into contact with on a daily basis, we have made several adjustments in their surroundings.
The Animal Care Manual, issued by The National Dairy FARM Program, states that the use of sunshades, sprinklers, misting fans, dietary alterations and wind breaks are all used in helping to control temperature variances in the dairy cow. The range of temperatures during which an animal uses the minimum amount of metabolic energy to control its body temperature is known as the thermo-neutral zone or the comfort zone. It is in this comfort zone that milk production is most efficient because more energy can be used to produce milk as opposed to controlling body temperature.
We also use various bedding materials in dairy barns to maximize the comfort of the dairy cow. Under ideal conditions, a dairy cow will lie down to rest on an average of 14 hours a day. Dairy farmers want to make sure that their herds have plenty of clean, fresh, deep bedding to do so. The most popular type of bedding currently used is sand. Research is still being done, but it is thought that sand is cheaper than most organic bedding, offers better footing for the animal, has less bacterial growth and appears to cause even hoof wear resulting in less trimming.
Last, but not least, it is part of the dairy cow’s natural behavior to groom itself. They will, often times, do this by scratching their heads against walls or troughs, which causes extra wear and tear on these objects and could pose an injury risk to the cow if a sharp object is present. In an effort to prevent injury and decrease wear and tear, dairymen are introducing mechanical brushes or “cow brushes” to their herds. Rather than attempting to explain how a cow brush works, I would recommend watching this video:
In a study done by the Journal of Dairy Science, it was shown that all but one cow in a group that had access to the mechanical brush used it. The mechanical brush increased scratching or grooming time by 508% and introduced the opportunity for scratching areas other than the head, including hard to reach places like their necks, backs and tails. This study has shown that the use of “cow brushes” satisfies a cow’s natural instinct to groom or scratch and reduces boredom in the barn.
I doubt that William Hoard would have ever imagined that his words would still be referred to when mentioning the treatment of dairy cattle today. As the times have changed, the standard remains, “Treat each cow as a Mother should be treated.” I believe Mr. Hoard would be very proud of the changes and advancements that we have made in today’s dairies, as well as very hopeful for things yet to come.
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ReplyDeletethank you for your interesting infomation.