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A modern stall barn can be designed and mechanized to
provide good labor efficiency (Bates, 1983).
The major health problems associated with these barns
are usually a result of inadequate ventilation (respiratory)
or improper stall platform design and/or maintenance (teat
and leg injuries, mastitis, etc). The regular intimacy re
quired between operator and cow for milking, feeding and
clean-up usually result in better observation. However,
during cold or inclement weather problems often result
from failure to turn out cows for exercise (lameness, heat de
tection, etc.).
FREE STALL HOUSING
Some feel that there are more health problems associated
with free stall housing than with tie stall and stanchion
barns. Often times the most problems are seen when cows,
managers, and veterinarians are moved from tie stall barns
to free stall barns for the first time. The typical health prob
lems encountered will often be different in free stall housing
systems. Anyone concerned with free stall housing should be
familiar with the Proceedings from the Dairy Free Stall
Housing Symposium held in January 1986. They contain
experiences of farmers, farm advisors, engineers, designers,
dairy and animal scientists, veterinarians, and suppliers
during the 25 years that free stall housing has been used for
dairy cattle.
The Northeast Dairy Practices Council (NDPC, 1980)
considers the following functional components of a free stall
housing system: resting (free stalls), feeding, waterers,
alleys, holding area, milking center, treatment and mater
nity area, and manure handling. Ventilation and layout
should be added to this list.
Free Stalls
The individual free stall or cubicle is the heart of any free
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stall housing system. The design, construction and manage
ment of the stall can have a great impact on animal use and
health. In keeping with this, the stall should provide a clean,
dry and comfortable resting location for the cow. Day to day
management and size are probably the two most important
features. Regular attention to removal of manure and urine
and replacement of bedding can go a long way towards
keeping stalls clean, dry and comfortable. Various designs
and materials are used for the stall partition, stall base, and
bedding in attempts to accomplish this objective with mini
mum day to day labor and expense.
Irish and Merrill (1986) indicate that “The ideal free stall
should provide a stress-free environment for dairy heifers
and cows and a low cost, low care facility for the dairy oper
ator. For animals, a free stall should be more attractive and
comfortable than any other resting location. Ample space
for the largest animal in a group to freely enter, lie down,
lunge forward and rise without injury is a prime concern.
Position the standing or lying animal so that manure and
urine are deposited behind the stall bin to keep animals
cleaner. In addition, the free stall should be injury-free,
trap-free, durable (withstanding cow pressures c, 5000 lb
in), maintenance-free and marketable.”
Free Stall Partitions:
Free stall partitions in general are becoming less restric
tive and more open. The so called loop stall is the prime ex
ample of this trend. This provides more room for the animal
to lunge when getting up and down and provides better ven
tilation. It also reduces the ability of the partition and front
to position the cow within the desired area. The use of
brisket boards and training rails becomes more important
with these stalls. Training rails in particular are often the
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