(Continued from Page 30) times joes the veterinarian leave the farm without having flow can be controlled manually with a globe valve hooked gotten around to the calves compared with not having to the farm water supply but this will consume large gotten around to the cows? amounts of water. A solenoid valve, timer and thermostat A goo d calf and heifer housing facility should help pro provides automatic operation. Cycling the water on and off vide we u grown replacement animals ready to enter the will conserve water and promote alternate wetting and m ilking herd at 24 months of age. To achieve this goal the drying. Alternate wetting and drying may actually increase fadlity must; produce replacement heifers that are ready the cooling affect. Typical cycles range from 5 minutes on t 0 breed at 13 to 15 months of age; 2) Provide a comfortable, and 5 minutes off to 1.5 minutes on and 13.5 minutes off. bea itijy environment for calves and heifers; and 3) Provide a Sprinklers need only operate long enough to get cows wet. convenie nt working environment for the operator. Thermostats should be set to turn the system on at about 78° Various components of the calf and heifer housing system F - can affect animal comfort, health, and productivity (Graves and Heinrichs, 1984). The most common problems are: poor ventilation, housing younger animals with older young stock or mature cows, too many calves in a group, and too large an age or size span among calves in a group. Sprinkling in free stall alleys is not recommended. Wet bedding during hot weather will promote unhealthy condi tions. Also, cows should be encouraged to go to the feed bunk and eat. In California, cows will come out into the hot sun to stand under sprinklers at feeding areas. The following three important points must be considered TIE STALL HOUSING when sprinkling cows for heat stress relief. Tie stall or stanchion barns are the traditional method for •Operate the system to minimize wet, sloppy udders. housing milking dairy cows in the Northeast. They continue •Provide for good air flow over the cows to promote to be a popular and effective housing method, especially in evaporation. smaller herds. The Northeast Dairy Practices Council •Be sure to provide good air exchange to remove wet (NDPC, 1981) provides the following definition of a stall air from the sprinkler area. bam. “The stall bam is a dairy housing unit where animals CALF AND HEIFER HOUSING are restrained in parallel rows of stalls for efficient individ- The future of any dairy herd is its young stock. These ani- uai care and control, mats represent the highest genetic potential for milk pro- To save time and steps, workers proceed along one row of duction on a well managed dairy farm. Therefore, the care animals and return along a parallel row. Chores include given in raising these animals should be consistent with handling silage, hay, concentrates, water and bedding, milk their high value. However, the young stock on many dairy and manure and animal care (moving, inspecting, checking, farms are often the most overlooked animals. They are treating, and breeding).’’ housed last, fed last and given health care last. How many (T Urn to Page 33) AMERICAN SHELTERS A Common Sense Approach ✓ Economical ✓ Versatile Ideal Free Stall Barn with the “TRUSS RAFTER SYSTEM” Shelters are available from 20 ft. to 100 ft. widths. Covered with tightly woven Polythelyne Fiber for long life. The Uses of American Shelters are Unlimited! Available at: HUBER’S ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIES SlOTulpehocken Road, Myerstown, PA 17067 717-866-2246 Mon. 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tues. & Wed. 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. 7:30 a.m. to Noon
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers