Buildings
COMFORTABLE CUBICLES
The message is simple:- An uncomfortable cubicle means, a higher refusal rate, cows lie down for less time, they are dirtier and more prone to mastitis, ruminate less often and are more likely to suffer injury or lameness – often resulting in earlier culling.
A cubicle should satisfy 3 basic requirements: -
- Give enough room for the cow to lie down in comfort
- Allow additional space which may be "shared" to be used when lying down and getting up
- Provide at the same time enough movement control over the cow when using the beds and hence to keep cows clean
A wide range of factors influence cubicle comfort, efficiency and hygiene. The main ones are: -
- Stall dimensions
- Stall design
- Neck rails
- Brisket board
- Cubicle bases and bedding
- Overall management of the stock and their housing
Stall Dimension / Stall Design
The major and most relevant change in the design of cubicles recently has been the removal of the back leg.
Along with the sloped bottom rail these adjustments prevent cows getting trapped and allow some space sharing between adjacent stalls.
When lying a 600 kg cow needs 1680 mm body space (front knees to tail) with an additional 450 mm for her head and neck.
To enable a cow to lie down and rise comfortably "lunge" space is also required and is the most important aspect of stall design. It is the key to providing stalls that cows will use readily.
The lunge space can be provided: -
- At the front of her stall by lengthening the overall cubicle base by an additional 300 mm.
- At the front of a head to head stall by allowing head space to be shared
- By providing "side lunge" space into the adjacent stall. In this case it is important that the design of the cubicle division allows a vertical "free space" for head and neck movement.
Suggested Stall Dimensions for 550 – 600 kg Cow
| Width (Clear) | Stall Length | Neck Rail Height | Brisket Board from Kerb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side Lunge | Forward Lunge | |||
| 1100-1180 mm | 2130 mm | 2440 mm | 1050 mm | 1680 mm |
Brisket Board and Neck Rails
The modern stall division now provides extra "space" for cows, so brisket boards and neck rails have become more important to help keep cubicle beds clean.
Brisket boards are necessary to prevent cows lying too far forward, especially in forward lunge cubicles.
Neck rails " push" cows back when standing. They should be at least 1050 mm above the stall bed to avoid cows hitting them too early when they are rising. If they are placed too low they will keep cows from using the cubicles. To enable the neck rails to be fitted at the proper height the top rails of the cubicles should be designed accordingly.
Cubicle Bases
100 mm of a straight slope from the front to the back provides drainage and helps to prevent cows from creeping forward when lying, especially where no brisket boards are fitted. Cows also prefer facing uphill when they lie.
Cubicle beds and bedding
Various trials carried out to check the effectiveness of cow mats have shown that the lying time increases in general with the softness of the bed:
| Bare Concrete | 7 Hours |
| Concrete Screed (insulated) | |
| Hard Rubber Mat | |
| Deeper Soft Rubber Mat | |
| 50 mm Chopped Straw | |
| Cow Mattresses | 14 Hours |
With the introduction of leg less cubicles wall to wall mattresses was a natural progression, allowing for easier installationand maintenance. There are a number of suppliers on the market and the main considerations when purchasing should include: -
- Durability, both of the surface matting and the retention of the comfort factor (long – term resistance to compaction)
- A surface that is waterproof to prevent saturation of the cushion material underneath.
Wet mats support bacterial growth and become slippery leading to possible mastitis and leg injuries.
General Housing and Cubicle Management
As part of the overall housing environment it is necessary to clean passageways regularly, thus minimising fouling of the cubicle beds with dirty feet. Adequate ventilation is essential to avoid condensation and wetting of cubicles. Regular cleaning down of dung pats and application of a small amount of bedding, probably fine dry sawdust, helps absorb any moisture carried on the cows feet and keeps the cubicle bed clean and comfortable.
