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The goal is to encourage cows to spend a lot of time lying down in a clean area where they can rest and
chew their cud. It has been said that cows should be doing one of three things, all of which are related to
the production and harvesting of milk.
Standing to eat, consuming feed to convert to milk
Standing to be milked.
Lying down so they can - -
Conserve energy and use more of it for milk production.
Chew their cuds and make more milk.
Send more blood and nutrients to the udder to make milk
Make rest areas comfortable, healthy and enticing for cows to use so they he down and chew tl
Options include-
Well-sodded areas.
Well-bedded pens.
Properly designed stalls with soft beds, covered with some bedding
Provide cows with clean, dry, comfortable stalls and pens
A&E ENTERPRISES,INC.
Former TRI-COUNTY Staff
Hog System Specialists
Design, Build, & Service
* EQUIPMENT * PARTS * SERVICE
* REMODELING * NEW BUILDINGS
Finishing Contracts Available - Call For Details
A & E ENTERPRISES, INC.
28 Evergreen Road check our prices
Lebanon, PA 17042 before mu buy
(800) 220-1545 or (717) 274-3488
D
M
Farm
Glenn A. Shirk
Penn State Extension Agent
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Cow mattresses and soft rubber mats provide comfort to cows, but the cows should still be bedded for the
satisfactory be *° W The hard rubber mats and rubber belting materials generally are not
A thick layer of bedding on stall beds works just as well as mats and mattresses, without the cost of
purchasing them nor the cost of maintaining and replacing them in the future A bedding retainer bar at the
rear of the stall can help hold the bedding in the stall. However, bedding cost is a factor, but the cost of
bedding should be weighed against its benefits, which is discussed below
Bedding is beneficial because it absorbs moisture, it helps to protect the teat end from exposure to large
numbers of mastitis-causing organisms, it provides more cushion for the hocks and reduces hock miunes,
and it offers cows more traction so they struggle less and trample fewer teats when getting up
'be stall is critical, and when you are remodeling or building, be sure to get the dimensions
ngnt the first time Recommended design specs can be obtained from many universities, builders,
engmeers and other consultants Stalls should encourage usage, not discourage usage Cows should enter
the stall, lie down and get up without hesitation and without fear of experiencing discomfort or injury
In hestalls, the position of tie rails and cow trainers, the length of tie chains and the position of water
bowls affect how cows lie down and get up, how well they can reach the manger, and how well they can
reach and operate the water bowls. Attempt to tram heifers to the use of stalls before they calve
When cows are lying down in freestalls, they need to have enough lunge room to thrust their head
forward or sideways, m a low position, in order to get up easily without being obstructed by partitions
poorly positioned dividers, etc. Brisket boards help make sure cows lie in the proper position P so they can
get up easily. Neck rails and stall dividers help position the cow properly when she is standing so she
ends up in the right position when she lies down. Proper height of the top rail of the stall divider can
discourage cows from turning around in their stalls. Once the cow is lying down the stall divider serves
u°i.T°, SC ' t nd15 comfortable if cows don’t have a divider poking them in their nbs, hips and
legs, that makes loop dividers advantageous. For specific designs, seek expert advice
icir cuds
TBChnology That Yields'
GEORGE MASON
WAYNESBORO, PA
FRANKLIN COUNTY
70% Harvest Digestibility Adj Adj
Brand Hybrid Moist DM IVDC NE-L Milk/A
PIONEER 3335 25.63 49.63 72.52 ,72 17865.20
PIONEER 32K61 28.00 53.07 67.54 .62 14080.19
PIONEER 33Y18 26.12 53.78 72.82 .72 17684.02
PIONEER 33G26 25.54 50.80 72.00 .72 18015.82
PIONEER 33Y09 (Bt) 25.50 46.17 77.05 .81 22332.22
FLDCHC 9114 25.06 45.84 71.13 69 15827,81
MYCOGENTMFII3 25.82 48.88 72.01 .70 17939 69
NEKODA VIEW FARMS
MILLERSTOWN, PA
PERRY COUNTY
Brand Hybrid
CARGILL 7301FQ 15.09 35.72 69.06 .67 8797.39
PIONEER 33Y18 18,75 38.85 64.21 .56 6435.27
PIONEER 33V08 (Bt) 18.72 39.53 71.69 .71 12554.28
CARGILL 7301 FQ 19.50 41.00 69.53 .67 11257.10
PIONEER 3335 21.09 43.24 65.81 .59 8338.36
DONALD LEISHEAR
DAMASCUS, MD
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
70% Harvest Digestibility Adj Income
Brand Hybrid Moist DM IVDC NE-L /Acre
DOEBLER’S 737XP 19.44 42.45 75.13 .77 15020.43
PIONEER 33Y18 22.71 43.41 76.00 .78 18423.26
SECOND TRIAL
DOEBLER’S 737XP 18.43 39.14 73.91 .75 13957.86
PIONEER 33V08 (Bt) 20.09 39.15 76.34 .80 17194.80
IVDC = In vitro digestibility estimate.
Adjusted NE-L = Net energy of lactation (Mcal/LB).
Pioneer* brand hybrids with the YieldGard* gene.
'Registered trademark of, and used under license from, Monsanto Co.
/£g\ PIONEER
U 1-1 * BRAND PRODUCTS
All sales are subject to the terms o( labeling and sale documents ®, SM TM Trademarks and service marks
registered or applied for, of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc Des Moines lowa USA ©1997PH11
Lancartw Firming, Saturday, October 31, 19M-A29
PLANTED: 4/23/98
CHOPPED: 9/1/98
PLANTED: 5/21/98
CHOPPED: 9/14/98
70% Harvest Digestibility Adj Income
Moist DM IVDC NE-L /Acre
PLANTED: 4/13/98
CHOPPED: 8/25/98
Technology That Yields"*