The key to turning your milking cow into a cash cow is to give the cow all the happiness.
Give her a bigger stall, increase air circulation and provide some shelter to prevent overheating.
That’s according to a University of Wisconsin initiative that focuses on making dairy cows happier so they provide more milk.
“I think it’s really important that we give them the spa treatment,” said Nigel Cook, who has directed the Dairyland Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine since 2010.
Cook and his team visit farms to give advice about myriad issues, including behavior and easing cow stress. They also provide workshops and have created a website to share advice with farmers worldwide.
Cook said major concerns include leg pain or lameness, especially among cows that stand for long periods without a comfortable resting place.
“It impacts the way she rests, the way she milks, the way she eats, her ability to reproduce and ultimately her ability to stay on the farm,” he said.
One solution? Take her to the beach – or at least the farm equivalent.
“The deep soft bedding of sand creates an environment where cows can rest half the day,” Cook said.
Other recommendations include adding sprinklers and feeding cows at the same time – since herd animals prefer to do things together.
And while you’re at it, regroup cows less around birthing time to decrease stress associated with establishing a hierarchy. Take the stress away from cow, it leads to eating less and giving more milk.
