Facility Focus: The Best Way to Better Manage Group Maternity Pens for Calmer Calvings

Maternity pens can often feel like a merry-go-round for dairy producers to manage. New calves are born then moved, cows and heifers are constantly being shuffled in and out, and farm employees are routinely checking in to monitor herd health. To put it simply, maternity pens are chaotic.

According to Emily Fread, extension educator at Pennsylvania State University, cow comfort should always be at the forefront of every producer’s mind, and the maternity pen is no exception. She notes that the best way to keep animals within the maternity pen calm and collected is by working to minimize stress and provide privacy. To do so, she recommends the following tips.

Plan Ahead

Every dairy producer has experienced a calving boom. These events can be described as a period when it seems like every cow on the farm calves at once. According to Fread, it’s important to not only design maternity pens to handle a typical calving month, but also a pen that can withstand these booms.

“It’s common for farms to experience swings in calving. For example, farms may have more cows calve in late spring or early summer because of reproductive troubles during heat stress. Because of this, calving areas should accommodate at least 120% of the regular calving rate,” she notes.

Minimize Movement

Group maternity pens are convenient for housing a large number of expectant cows at the same time. However, they don’t allow for much privacy, which can add unnecessary stress when an animal begins to calve. To minimize this, it may be necessary to move the cow to an individual pen for more peace and quiet, but it is important to do so in a timely manner.

“With group maternity pens, it is essential to minimize social stress as much as possible, as competition can occur in this setting,” Fread says. “Ideally, if a farm moves cows to a new pen for calving, this should be done before labor starts. Moving the animal during labor can extend labor time, which could increase the risk of dystocia.”

Cows have been shown to begin seeking privacy from herd mates around 4 hours before calving. Ideally, cows should be moved to an individual pen before labor begins. If an animal begins to calve beforehand, she should be moved during the early signs of labor. Moving cows once labor has started to progress delays calving and reduces lying time, increasing the risk of dystocia.

Manage Stocking Density

Overcrowded maternity pens can present a major problem when it comes to creating a calm calving environment. Too many animals can lead to increased levels of stress, poorer pen conditions and enhance the risk of injury to both the cow and newborn calf.

“Stocking density in the pre-fresh pen is very important,” Fread says. “Dry matter intake naturally decreases before calving, so it is essential to give cows adequate space at the feed bunk so feed intake does not fall even more. It is recommended that the feed bunk be stocked at 80% or less, meaning when every cow is eating, there should still be 20% of space left; this should equal about 0.76m per cow.”

In addition to providing adequate space, it’s important to also consider which animals are grouped together. According to Fread, it may be necessary to separate first calf heifers from older cows to create a calmer environment.

“Mixing heifers and cows in a close-up dry or maternity pen can cause unnecessary stress for the heifers,” Fread says. “One study showed that in mixed-group housing during the transition period, first lactation animals are displaced from the feed bunk more frequently. Separating heifers and cows for the entire transition period, meaning three weeks before and three weeks after calving, can help alleviate added stress for the heifers.”

Additional Tips

Though maternity pens can sometimes feel chaotic to manage, there are additional ways to help minimize stress and create a calmer calving environment for both cow and calf. Some of these tips include:

• Utilizing technology, such as activity monitors or video cameras, to watch for signs of labor.
• Minimize noise and foot-traffic disturbances.
• Creating a secluded area within the group pen where a cow can feel more isolated from her penmates.
• Have clear calving management protocols set in place.
• Consulting with your farm’s veterinarian or calf consultant for design recommendations or advice on how to update facilities.

For more on facilities, read:

• Facility Focus: 4 Tips to Manage Ventilation During the Off-Season
• Facility Focus: Could Automated Sort Gates be Your Next Employee?
• Facility Focus: Is Your Farm Equipped to Raise Beef-on-Dairy?
• Facility Focus: Don’t Slip Up on Floor Resurfacing
• Facility Focus: Lock-Up Time Could Lead to Lost Production
• Facility Focus: Is Your Calf Warming Room Ready for Another Winter?