When it comes to dairy farming, we already know that animal welfare and productivity go hand-in-hand. Cow comfort refers to the practices, conditions and environment designed to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of dairy cows. By understanding and addressing factors that contribute to cow comfort, vets and animal health advisors can play a pivotal role in helping dairy farmers maintain healthier, more productive herds.
The Link Between Comfort and Health
Cows thrive in consistent, low-stress, comfortable environments. Comfort impacts every aspect of a cow’s health, from immune function to risk of disease and reproductive success. But how can we measure whether our cows are truly comfortable, and whether comfort is paying off in terms of health, welfare and productivity?
We can assess whether cows are meeting the ideal daily “time budget.” Under conditions of optimal comfort, a cow will spend approximately 12-14 hours lying down, 3-5 hours eating, and only 2-3 hours standing, walking and loafing.
There are only 24 hours in a day; for cows in comfortable environments, 70% of this time is spent lying or feeding. Factor in ‘out of pen’ time for milking – suddenly there’s not much time left in the time budget! Cows will prioritise lying time over other behaviours as much as possible; but if comfort is compromised (e.g. by overcrowded cubicles, poor or insufficient bedding, or extended time away from the pen), they will spend more time standing or ‘perching’ (standing in a cubicle). This uses more energy, puts them at higher risk of lameness, and eats into the time budget for activities which support the immune system and benefit the cow most – feeding and lying.
Productivity and Economic Implications of Cow Comfort
One of the clearest connections between comfort and productivity is seen in milk yield. Studies show that each additional hour a cow spends resting can increase milk production by 1-1.5L/per cow per day. Additionally, studies have shown that cows in higher comfort environments have 15-20% lower incidences of mastitis, 10-15% improvement in conception rates and are 30-50% less likely to be culled prematurely. Comfortable, spacious cubicles, clean bedding, and optimal feed management are proven ways to improve cow lying times and, consequently, health and productivity parameters. Cubicle renovations, bedding improvements, and proper stocking densities may have upfront costs, but can pay for themselves within a few months. By analysing cow comfort and advising on improvements, vets and animal health advisors can help farmers achieve substantial productivity gains.
How Vets Can Promote Cow Comfort on Farms
Vets and animal health advisors are uniquely positioned to advocate for cow comfort improvements through objective assessment of cow housing and management. AHDB provide a comprehensive guide to dairy cow housing recommendations. There are some practical areas that advisors can assess to support cow comfort:
- Evaluate Cubicle Comfort and Design
During herd checks, evaluate the cubicle design, cleanliness, and bedding quality. Cows prefer soft surfaces for lying, and lying times and subsequent production can increase markedly after investment in softer bedding such as sand or high-quality mattresses. Ensure cubicles are of adequate size, number and cleanliness. - Encourage Proper Stocking Densities
Assess stocking density to reduce competition and bullying for resources. There should be at least 5% more cubicles than cows, but be aware if some cubicles are too small, dirty or inaccessible then they should not count towards the total! - Optimize Feed Management
Work with farmers to implement feeding schedules that align with the cows' natural behaviours. The biggest drivers of feeding behaviour are delivery of fresh feed and feed push-ups, particularly during daylight hours and after milking. Optimising feeding for these times encourages dry matter intake (DMI), which can be an easy win for increasing milk yield. - Implement Health Monitoring Technology for Early Intervention
These days there are many ways in which dairy cows are monitored – work with farmers to interpret the data produced, and track and analyse changes that could suggest changes in cow health and welfare and use that information. Setting time to assess cow health on an ongoing basis improves overall herd health and productivity. - Assess Time Budgets with Farmers
Do you know what the time budget is on your farms? How long cows are spending out of the pen per day? What impact that is having on important behaviours such as feeding and lying, and how that affects overall health and milk yield? Measuring the time budget is the first step towards accommodating the cow's optimal daily schedule and can lead to significant improvements in both productivity and health.
The Role of Vets in Driving Positive Change
As vets and animal health advisors, we are trusted aides to dairy farmers, and our insights are important factors in management decisions. By advocating for improved cow comfort, we help farmers build healthier herds, increase productivity, and create more sustainable, profitable dairy operations.
Through regular check-ins, bespoke recommendations, and objective, evidence-based improvements to cow comfort, meaningful changes can be made to welfare and profitability - one comfortable cow at a time.
