Livestock Equipment

How AI-Powered Barns Could Cut Water Use by Up to 70%

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:33:11 GMT

For years, dairy producers have invested in fans, soakers and ventilation systems to keep cows comfortable during periods of heat stress. Now, a new generation of technology is helping those systems work smarter. Using cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence, automated barn management tools can identify where cows are standing, apply water only where it’s needed and provide managers with a deeper look into what is happening inside the barn.

Josh Broekema of Inbarn recently discussed how the company’s Barn AI technology is helping dairies reduce water and energy use while generating information that can support day-to-day management decisions.

“We’ve spent years improving the cow’s health with cow comfort practices. Now it’s time to improve the bottom line by helping the dairy purchase things like this that really help the ROI,” Broekema says.

Reduce Water Use Without Sacrificing Cow Cooling

Heat abatement remains one of the most important components of cow management during warm weather. Soakers and fans are one of the most effective cooling combinations, but many systems apply water whether cows are present or not. Barn AI was initially developed to address that challenge.

“Barn AI started as a system that helps dairies save on water,” Broekema says. “There are many reasons to save water more than just the water itself.”

According to Broekema, the technology can reduce water use by 60% to 70% depending on the system design and management goals.

(Rob Leach)

“Barn AI is probably one of the biggest advancements we have with being able to cut down on water depending on which system we find that’s best for the dairy,” he says.

The system identifies where cows are standing and prevents water from being applied in empty areas. This not only conserves water but can also reduce the amount of excess moisture entering manure handling systems.

In areas where water management is already challenging, reducing unnecessary water application can provide additional benefits.

Individualized Cooling Opportunities

Beyond reducing water use, newer versions of the technology are designed to improve how cooling is delivered to individual cows. Instead of waiting for the next scheduled soak cycle, cows can receive water shortly after arriving at the feed bunk.

“When the cow’s at the feed bunk, rather than waiting on the next one when she gets there, that water turns on for her right away,” Broekema says. “She gets her own individual timer.”

While this approach may not deliver the highest possible water savings, Broekema says it allows dairies to focus available water where it can provide the greatest cooling benefit.

Bringing AI into the Barn

Artificial intelligence is becoming more common across the dairy industry, and Broekema sees significant potential for using cameras and computer vision technology to support management decisions.

“We see at a rapid pace that AI is starting to take a role in the dairy industry and that farms are working with it to make some decisions,” he says.

The company’s camera-based system can monitor whether feed deliveries occur on schedule, verify feed pushups and provide other operational insights. Additional capabilities currently under development include monitoring lying time, feed bunk attendance, waterer usage and standing behavior.

(Farm Journal)

The goal is to provide managers with greater visibility into areas of the barn that often receive less attention during the workday.

“Having some eyes in the back of the barn to know what’s going on and having some reports to look at daily would be pretty valuable,” Broekema says.

Savings Beyond Water

The technology’s ability to identify where cows are located can also create opportunities to reduce energy consumption. Using camera-based monitoring, fans can be shut off when pens are temporarily empty while cows are away being milked.

“If cows aren’t in the pen, that’s an opportunity to reduce that usage without affecting cow comfort,” Broekema says.

While he notes the strategy is not appropriate for every facility, it can offer meaningful savings in naturally ventilated barns where fan operation provides little benefit when cows are absent.

“If there’s no benefit to have the fans on while there’s no cows, let’s shut the fans off and save that one hour every time they go to milk,” he says.

As dairies continue evaluating technologies that can improve efficiency, Broekema believes the combination of resource savings and management insights creates value beyond cow cooling alone.

“It’s about sustainability and helping the bottom line on less energy usage, less water usage and better decisions,” Broekema says. “Information is valuable and adds to the bottom line.”

Separating Signal From Noise in a Data-Heavy Dairy

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:22:54 GMT

The beauty and curse of farming in the technological age comes in the form of 0’s and 1’s. There never seems to be an end to the measurables we collect and breakdown on a farm.

As our capabilities grow in terms of systems and software, this mound of data continues to grow.

But how do we know what is important?

Many seasoned herdsmen that I work with often bemoan just how hard it is to train the next generation of farm workers. “They just don’t have cow sense.” “They’re too deep in the numbers, and not the cows.” “Why can’t they just see it?”

What they are describing is a little-known skill they already possess known as Signal to Noise Positivity (SNP). Our seasoned herdsmen have developed an unconscious skill that allows them to differentiate between meaningful information (signal) and irrelevant information (noise). However, they had a significant advantage of developing this skillset during a time when the “noise” or extra irrelevant data was much less overwhelming.

Our farms are full of positive noise and signals that can be valuable in animal management. Feed intakes, milk production, lbs. of solids, rumination, SCC, milk deviation, etc. etc. all represent measures that indicate if things are headed in the right or wrong direction.

However, each of these factors is not important in each situation. Irrelevant noise from time to time causes new decision makers to make incorrect decisions based upon that noise rather than the more meaningful signals.

Taken together Signal and Noise Ratio (SNR) indicates whether positive noise is more or less likely to stick out. A higher SNR, or more meaningful noise vs irrelevant noise, means the decision maker is more likely to ID the important data whereas a low SNR means more confusion in the data.

But on today’s operations it is extremely difficult to learn how to increase a SNR and use it as our data pool, and subsequent noise grows.

For example, your herdsmen today may work a fresh pen and ID a sick cow with the following information; 7 DIM, rapid breathing, temp is 103 on the parlor meter, milk production is down 30 lbs., her ears are droopy, her rumination is down 40%, her eating time is 2%, and her activity is 50% what it was yesterday. These symptoms when taken together could be indicative of 5+ infectious diseases in a fresh cow and can rapidly confuse new workers.

However, an experienced herdsmen knows the most important part of all this noise is the 7 DIM signal which limits the likely diagnosis to only 2 or 3 possibilities. Their unique SNP ability filters the signal from the noise so no matter how much data we pile on top of the signal they can ignore the unimportant noise.

So how can we improve the SNP for new workers?

First, we need to eliminate multitasking. This only adds noise to the scenario and scatters attention. When working sick cows or doing other health tasks, new employees need to focus upon that singular task until deemed to have developed a sufficient SNP.

Second, we need to encourage monitoring of longer-term trends and react less to the hour to hour or day to day fluctuations. Certainly, there are cases that will change hour to hour but when training we need to help employees understand common cases and that cows generally will trend toward “healthy” or “sick” no matter how complex or simple our data collection system is.

Third, we need to expose these individuals to training from others who have advanced SNP skills. Many times, this involves an outside consultant such as your herd veterinarian who can use hands on training and also create SOP programs to help the individual navigate the noise.

Signals of disease are not always strong. However, by reducing noise for new team members we can increase the correct disease diagnosis while still implementing the latest in smart technology.

No, John Deere is Not Freezing Production or Stepping Away From its U.S. Factories

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:48:44 GMT

An online report last week claimed John Deere is shutting down ALL manufacturing in response to the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S.

But we looked into it, and we’re here to tell you: don’t take the bait — or, as the kids say, feed the trolls — because it’s simply not true.

An article authored by Kieran Schalkwyk and titled “John Deere Freezes U.S. Manufacturing in Unprecedented Shutdown” appeared on MSN.com and was aggregated by Google News feeds last week, claiming the manufacturer is “making a radical move that some might think is ‘un-American.’”

John Deere shared the following LinkedIn post Friday afternoon. You can also visit Deere.com for more information on the company’s U.S. manufacturing presence.

The MSN.com post has since been taken down and brings up an error page:

MSN.com screenshot

(MSN.com)

It’s somewhat bewildering timing for this particular misinformation ploy.

John Deere recently put out a blog post outlining its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The statement says John Deere will invest $20 billion into its U.S. footprint over the next decade, which includes major expansion projects in Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Today, the company has 60 manufacturing facilities in more than 16 U.S. states and employs over 30,000 American workers.

What is true is over the past 18 months, the company has been forced to lay off some employees , and it strategically slowed manufacturing at some production facilities in Iowa in response to depressed farmer demand for new tractors and combines.

Of course, John Deere is not alone navigating a treacherous global farm economy. Machinery rivals AGCO and CNH also made the tough choice to layoff factory workers over the past 12 months. CNH even completely shutdown its overseas machinery imports during the first few days of the tariff policy rollout, although that pause was only temporary.

In February, we updated our popular “Who Makes What Where” feature showing where major farm equipment is manufactured around the world.

Our analysis of John Deere’s global factory network shows that of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to U.S. farmers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured here in North America. Of all the major farm equipment manufacturers we polled, John Deere has the largest U.S.-based manufacturing footprint other than Canadian-based Buhler Industries, which is 100% North America based.

So, it feels safe to say we can put this rumor to bed once and for all: No, John Deere is not shutting down its factories. Myth Busted. Shutdown the rumor mill.

Your Next Read - All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

Discover Equipment Trends: From Tractors to Hay Tool Innovation

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:00:59 GMT

As May arrives, bringing warmer weather throughout much of the country, two segments in the used equipment auction world are also heating up: lower horsepower utility tractors and unique antique tractors.

Machinery Pete says the utility tractor class (125 hp to 175 hp with a loader) has been fairly strong for the past two years now, and noted a recent sale that shows higher price upside coming into play for those machines.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A John Deere 6115M MFWD tractor (962 hours) with a H310 loader with grapple sold for a record $107,500 at an auction last week in Plano, Texas.

Another transaction that caught the eye of Pete and host Casey Seymour took place Tuesday evening at an Almond Vintage Power auction near Nicomas, Ill.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 1911 Imperial 4070 tractor in beautiful condition sold for $955,500. Only three tractors in that year/model are known to exist.

“It’s a very extreme example, but it shows there’s no shortage of money in the market right now, whether it’s the right piece of land or a crazy collector’s item like that,” Pete says.

Seymour, who has over 20 years of experience in the used equipment space, then spent some time with Pete unpacking some of the best practices they’ve picked up over the years for visual marketing up-for-auction equipment.

“The more information you can put out there, the better opportunity you have to spark somebody’s interest,” Seymour says. “And it’s a way to set yourself apart, whether you’re an auction company or a dealership or even selling it privately, to show you’ve got nothing to hide.”

Hay Tool Technology Evolves
Kaylene Ballesteros, go-to market manager – hay and forage products, John Deere, talked about the company’s approach to technology and automation in hay equipment.

She says adding automation to hay tools is no different than the evolution from horses pulling steel plows to diesel tractors working the ground. The idea is the technology has to make hay producers lives easier and also bounce some ROI back into their operations.

Years ago, John Deere launched its baler automation technology, and it recently built onto that ecosystem with Weave Automation. The feature automates “the art of weaving back and forth over the row really carefully” to make sure you get a perfectly square shoulder bale every time.

“Now, the hitch of the baler does the weaving for you, based off bale size and threshold settings it will make sure that bale is a square shoulder bale,” Ballesteros adds. “So, they can sit in that cab with a little less to worry about or go to their kid’s basketball game and put somebody else in the seat. It takes the stress out of that situation, too.”

Is Demand for Used Combines and Utility Vehicles On the Rise?
Aaron Fintel, used equipment specialist, 21^st Century Equipment, says 2025 is still the year of the last-minute equipment purchase. He had a farmer call him just a few days ago, on the cusp of full bore planting season, looking for a used planter. Fintel is also predicting higher demand coming into play on used combines and utility tractors in the 100 hp to 175 hp segment.

“It’s almost like everybody heard how cheap they were and said ‘Well, I suppose we should probably look into one,’” he says of buying behavior in the used utility tractor segment.

Another insight Fintel shares is the current tariff situation and uncertainty in the economy is stifling buying activity among livestock producers. Cattle ranchers, unlike their corn and soy raising counterparts, are riding a wave of strong prices for beef and other proteins.

Watch full episodes of the Moving Iron Podcast and Machinery Pete TV for FREE on our new streaming platform, Farm Journal NOW.

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AGCO Launches Massey Ferguson 2025 Compact Tractor Series, New Double Square Baler

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

AGCO has announced the launch of its Massey Ferguson 2025 compact tractor lineup as well as a new double small square baler for hay producers.

The 2025 lineup offers solutions tailored to smaller agricultural operations and AGCO says its model year class empowers operators to achieve better results with better value.

Included in the 2025 Model Year Class of compact tractors:

New Premium Series (24.8 - 60.3 hp) tractors designed for daily use and ideal for a variety of applications from snow removal and landscaping to fieldwork and property maintenance.
New MF Compact-Economy Series (24 - 57.3 hp) tractors balance affordability with capability and offer a variety of configurations.
New MF Sub-Compact Series (22.5-24.5 hp) tractors that Massey Ferguson says are perfect for hobby farmers and first-time operators.

For more information about the Massey Ferguson MY2025 compact tractor lineup, visit https://www.masseyferguson.com/en_us.html.

Hesston by Massey Ferguson Double Small Square Baler

The MF SB.1436DB is designed to help producers meet tight harvest windows with minimal costs and maximum productivity, according to Massey Ferguson.

(Massey Ferguson)

AGCO’s new Hesston by Massey Ferguson SB.1436DB small square baler is capable of producing two rows of bales per field pass. Massey Ferguson says this enables double the output of a single baler producing 14-by-18-inch bales. By producing two rows of bales per pass, the new machine effectively doubles production capacity while reducing the need for additional labor, equipment and fuel.

Its 105-inch pickup width is also the widest configuration in the high-capacity small square baler segment, according to Massey Ferguson. This helps improve field efficiency and reduce labor needs by optimizing movement of hay into the baler.

For more information on the MF SB.1436DB small square baler, visit https://www.masseyferguson.com/en_us.html .

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Monarch's MK-V Dairy Tractor Rolls Out Autonomous Feed Pushing

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

Monarch Tractor announces its first-in-class, fully-autonomous Autodrive feature is now commercially available on its MK-V driver-optional dairy tractor (EV or diesel) , according to a press release from the startup.

“Autonomous feed pushing offers value to dairy farmers by improving efficiency and increasing milk production,” says Praveen Penmetsa, CEO and co-founder of Monarch Tractor. “It allows the dairy farmers to focus on what matters most – the health and well-being of their animals.”

Autonomous feed pushing helps dairy farmers manage through labor shortages, and the ability to monitor feed pushing remotely while tending to other critical tasks ensures cows can be consistently fed every hour.

Additionally, the “smart tractor” is armed with Monarch’s Wingspan Ag Intelligence and WingspanAI technology stack , which tracks performance data while 360-degree cameras record video footage for real-time and historical insights. The MK-V Dairy is also a mobile power bank with 12v, 110v, and 220v plugs.

Monarch is hosting an in-person Autodrive demonstration at a working dairy on February 12, at 3 p.m. in Tulare, California, during World Ag Expo. Monarch reps and engineers will be on hand to talk to attendees and give them the opportunity to engage with the tractor. Reservations for the demonstration can be made here.

If you can’t make it to California next week, Monarch says dairy farmers can reach out and set up a demonstration at their farm.

John Deere Introduces 326 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loader

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:39:03 GMT

John Deere announces the release of its new 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader. The 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader offers 16-plus feet of reach from its telescopic lift arm while still being compact enough to work in barns or other tight spaces.

“Operators will enjoy it for the cab visibility, the boom controls and the exclusive Articulation Plus steering system,” said Luke Gribble, John Deere go-to-market manager. “Put it all together, and the 326 P-Tier is a real multitool for the farm or ranch.”

To help guard against overloading, The Load Torque Indicator System gives visual and audible alarms if stability limits are exceeded during lifting, lowering or extension of the lift arm. In addition, a separate indicator warns of potential overload of the tilt cylinder.

“Features like these help make the 326 P-Tier an operator-friendly wheel loader for farmers and ranchers,” Gribble said. “And it is perfect for less-experienced operators.”

Inside the cab, operators will find a comfortable, easy-to-navigate environment. A 9-inch touchscreen display puts key information within easy view, and it shows key data such as warnings, status and machine-positioning information.

Conveniently placed electro-hydraulic controls offer Auto Return-to-Dig, and Auto Lift and Lower functions, and help to reduce cycle times. Optional boom-mounted lights and standard overhead window allow for a clear view to the end of the telescoping arm.

The new compact wheel loader also features a 23-mph top speed to help move quickly between jobs. And for tight turning in barns and other cramped spaces, its Articulation Plus steering system offers a full 30 degrees of articulation plus 10 additional degrees of rear-wheel steering.

To learn more about the new 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

Efficiency is a Deciding Factor When Purchasing Wheel Loaders on Large Dairies

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Efficiency—it’s more than a buzzword on farms. It’s what producers strive to achieve at every corner of their business to help rein in the overall cost of production. One area that producers are giving an efficient examination to is the equipment they purchase, like wheel loaders that are tasked with 8-plus hours of feeding a day.

According to John Deere’s solutions marketing manager, Luke Gribble, producers are looking to ensure that the wheel loader is equipped with features that enable it to reach max productivity.

“Knowing that, Deere offers many top-of-the-line features from the factory specifically suited for these types of applications, including dual locking differentials with either manual or automated differential lock, axle cooling capabilities, and Quad-Cool,” Gribble says. “These features allow the machine to perform at its best in all types of ground conditions and keep major components clean and cool so that machines can run efficiently all day long.”

Joel Grimes, a wheel loader market professional with Caterpillar, says dairy producers truly understand ROI and that folds over to the equipment they buy.

“They are what I would consider total lifecycle cost thinkers,” he says, sharing that the three highest operating costs when running a wheel loader is:

Fuel
Tires
The cutting edges on the bucket

“Caterpillar has designed this machine fundamentally different to help the modern dairy farmer,” he says. “For example, to help keep our fuel burn down, we reduced engine speed and sized up pumps that ultimately results is burning less fuel.”

New Technology Must-Haves

Needing to quickly weigh loads to mix numerous batches of feed through the day has made smart technology like Deere’s SmartWeigh and CAT’s Payload features that producers consider a must-have.

“It is crucial to be able to easily and quickly get accurate weights of all the ingredients that are going into a producer’s feed. SmartWeigh is a John Deere designed and supported payload weighing solution that delivers accurate measurements, dynamic weighing capabilities, and is easy to calibrate,” Gribble says.

Grimes points out that CAT Payload can weigh the payloader as it fills, saving a return trip. He also shares that when it comes to serving the equipment, technology gives maintenance reminders that can be displayed in the operator’s choice of language.

“Technology is just working automatically,” Grimes says. “Modern farmers can get cattle fed and go onto the next job quicker.”

Neil Detra, North American product manager for wheel loaders and compact wheel loaders with CASE Construction Equipment, says their SiteWatch technology helps with inefficiencies like idle time.

“SiteWatch helps track utilization, fuel usage and idle time, and it’ll let farmers know if there are any issues,” Detra says. “Utilization reports can help track fuel, which can help understand your idle time and how you can reduce your costs as an owner.”

New Safety Features

CAT is planning to launch their next-generation product that includes a multi-view camera that provides a bird’s eye view to allow operators to see all around them.

“You’ve got an extra eye to help reduce accidents,” Grimes says.

Additionally, they have safety features built in that will bring the machine to a stop if it detects the operator has fallen out of the seat.

Deere’s Advanced Object Detection assists the operator in visualizing the anticipated reversal path of the loader based on its articulation to provide a better line of sight to objects or people that may be directly within that path. A distinctive audible alarm notifies the operator when an object is detected with the beep speed increasing as an object comes closer to the loader.

CASE underscores the importance of safety, as agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations.

“A lot of safety features are in place,” Detra says. “We have high-visibility seatbelts coming out so you can see if the operator is utilizing the seatbelts or not.”

Coordinated by CASE dealers, operator orientation training can be scheduled to go over new equipment, like payloaders and the new technology and safety features they come equipped with.

“Visibility is huge focus for CASE. Wheel loaders have sloping rear hoods, which allow for excellent visibility. In conjunction with backup cameras and backup alarms, these technologies allow for a safer jobsite,” he says.

With the goal of lowering the cost of production, producers understand the importance of carving out time to review what equipment works best in their operations. And, with large dairies putting between 3,000 and 4,000 hours on a payloader annually, producers take a lot into consideration before making that purchase, like technology and safety features that can help them efficiently and safely feed their herd of cows.

How to Improve Slippery Milk Parlor Flooring

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 21:52:01 GMT

Providing confident, anti-slip milk parlor flooring is vital to cattle health, performance, and well-being. Cows require a good footing to comfortably move around the housing area, especially in areas where they change direction, express estrus, as well as, to and from the milking center.

Why Even the Best Floors Wear Down

No matter how well alley surfaces are prepared initially they will most likely need resurfacing periodically to minimize slipping, falling, and injury. Manure removal from alleys multiple times per day using vehicle, or automatic, scrapers can wear grooved floor surfaces over time, making it smooth and slippery. Even flushing alleys clean can take a toll. Sand bedding escaping stalls can improve traction in alleys but also adds grit that can escalate wear. Even the best cattle flooring installations need refurbishing with time. Every six to eight years is typical, but in some cases, improvements are necessary in the first year of operation.

Fortunately, there are methods available to recondition smooth, slippery cow alleys to again provide a sure footing. These include adding grooves, ‘milling’ the surface, covering areas with a ‘rubber like’ material, and concrete replacement.

Concrete grooving for cattle

Grooving is usually the preferred method for creating and improving a floor surface for cows. Grooves help to drain moisture away from the surface and provide better ‘grip’. Grooving patterns can be formed, stamped, or sawn into alleys during or after alleys are formed. For restoration sawn grooves are preferred as they can be added quickly and with control, producing a ‘clean’ groove edge for improved traction. Recommended groove size is typically 1/2” wide by 1/2” deep and spaced 4” on center, creating a 3-1/2” wide tread, or hoof contact surface. A parallel grooving pattern runs along alley length. Grooves for a two-direction, or diamond, grooving pattern run at opposing angles to each other along the alley length. The additional grooves and geometry of this pattern offers cows better traction in more directions than parallel grooves.

Grooving patterns for enhanced traction

Recently some grooving companies offer groove widths from 3/4” to 1” wide to improve traction and permit easier cleaning. One-half inch grooves are suitable for sand bedding freestall shelters, but systems using organic bedding may benefit from 3/4” wide grooves since they may clean better improving traction. Shelter layouts placing special cow pens using organic bedding upstream from sand bedded freestall pens can benefit from wider grooves since the organic bedding material will find its way into the freestall alleys. When pondering grooves wider than 3/4”, consider increasing groove spacing slightly to provide ample tread width for support, and reduce groove depth a bit to minimize chance of injury as a hoof claw enters a groove.

In cow alleys with an existing parallel groove pattern, sawn grooves placed at an angle to the existing grooves across the alley width, creates a two-direction pattern, with proven good results. Existing alleys with two-direction sawn grooves can often be ‘refreshed’ using a machine like the one used to initially create them. There is also the opportunity to increase groove width to 3/4”, while still leaving ample tread size for hoof support.

Milling and scabbling options

Milling can be helpful in leveling rough, uneven concrete creating a suitable surface to add grooves. It can also be used to recondition a smooth, polished tread surface of grooved alleys exposing a ‘textured’ surface that can provide relatively good traction and support.

This process usually only removes a thin layer (~ 1/8”) of the surface, commonly leaving a pattern that looks like corduroy. Producers notice improved footing immediately after application but indicate the process typically needs to be repeated every three years or so due to wear from daily scrapings. Responding to this some companies have added ‘wear bars’ (narrow strips at existing concrete level) every so often across the alley width to reduce scraper contact with the textured surface.

‘Scabbling’ uses a machine that incorporates ‘hammers’ to roughen the surface. These machines are often used to bust up the top layer of existing concrete to create more surface area for a new layer of concrete to bond to. For cattle applications, some hammers are removed to create alternating strips of textured and smooth surfaces approximately 1-1/2” to 3” wide with rough edges. This process creates an uneven surface compared to grooving or milling. Therefore, the ‘hammered’ strip should be no deeper than 1/4” to reduce the chance of injury. One observed installation consisted of alternating 1-1/2” strips with hammered strips a little more than 1/2” deep producing a surface very difficult for cows walk on, resulting in significant lameness issues. Covering the alleys with rubber mats proved to be a solution for that situation.

Rubber and Synthetic Covers

Using a resilient ‘rubber like’ material to cover concrete alleys is another way to improve footing, but it comes with some challenges too. Materials providing the best cushion and traction seem more susceptible to damage from vehicle traffic. Material expansion and contraction with temperature changes can lift sections at the seams making them vulnerable to scraper damages. Carefully following the manufacturers installation and anchoring instructions and limiting skid-steer turning will improve longevity.

More durable materials hold up better to vehicle traffic and minimize material movement but offer less cushion, and some can be quite slippery when wet. Realizing this some suppliers add groove patterns to the material to improve traction. Again, follow the suppliers recommended installation instructions.

Slotted Floors and Slats

Slotted floors (slats) don’t see as much scraping activity as solid floors, but over time can wear smooth as well. Both grooving and milling have been used to improve the footing on slotted floors. When considering either option contact the manufacturer for recommendations, so the flooring strength and integrity remains intact. In most cases milling direction should be parallel to the ‘long’ opening of the slot to minimize damage to the slot opening top edges.

Resilient floor options are also available for slotted floors. Some use mechanical fasteners as anchors, whole others employ a rubber ‘wedge’ forced into a portion of the slotted opening. Careful measurement and good communication with the supplier are recommended successful application.

When to replace concrete in cow alleys

Occasionally cow alleys need to be replaced since they are cracked, broken, or have worn too thin and lost strength. For replacement select a qualified concrete contractor to do the new alley(s). Make sure the new concrete is placed on a stable base layer. Use an air entrained concrete mixture with a minimum of strength of 3,500 pounds per square inch (psi) and adequate reinforcement. A nominal 4” thickness is adequate for most cow and vehicle traffic, but if truck or trailer loads of sand bedding will pass over them use a minimum thickness of 6”. Alleys should be level across the width to reduce puddling and sloped 1 to 2 percent along the length to drain toward the manure collection opening. If grooves are to be formed soon after being poured make sure the person(s) placing them is capable. Formed grooves are ‘time sensitive’ and since concrete can vary with each load, day, and time of day the individual using the grooving device must understand these variables and adjust to create a quality job. As mentioned earlier, adding sawn grooves after the concrete has fully cured may allow more control over installation and provide better quality grooves. Of course, concrete must be fully cured, all exposed aggregate and concrete protrusions ground down, and debris removed before allowing cattle to enter the area.

Prioritizing high-risk zones

Offering confident, non-skid footing for cattle is one of the basic elements required in any dairy housing system. If a complete resurfacing can’t be justified at the moment, focus on areas where cattle may be more vulnerable to slipping such as, areas where cattle change direction, traffic lanes across feed delivery alleys, crossovers between alleys without a non-skid surface, and lanes with a slope.

Reconditioning flooring surfaces cattle use may seem like and daunting and expensive task. However, preventing the loss of even one cow due to injury resulting from a fall may easily justify the time and cost necessary to get it done.

DHM How To: Remove Milking Units and Clean

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:57:15 GMT

The time to remove units is right when cows are done milking. Removal before all of the milk is out of the udder can lead to mastitis, while leaving units on too long can lead to teat end damage.

In the fifth installment of this eight-part video series, Roger Thomson, consultant with MQ-IQ consulting, offers advice on when and how to detach units, in addition to cleaning the units and parlor after the machines are removed.

DHM How To: Create An Optimal Milking Environment

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:57:15 GMT

Put a white bucket in the parlor where cows walk and they will find it immediately. It’s not the bucket, it’s the fact that it’s something different than usual. That’s why consistency in the parlor is so critical to keeping cows calm and comfortable.

In the fourth video in this milk quality series, Roger Thomson, milk quality consultant with MQ IQ Consulting, goes through what it means to create a consistent environment inside the parlor, and how that leads to better milk harvest.

Don’t Let Spring Cause Your Somatic Cell Count to Spike

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:57:15 GMT

April showers bring May flowers, but it can also bringmastitis and a sudden increase in somatic cell count (SCC) levels.

Wet weather and warmer temperatures provide the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality. In order to stay ahead of a springtime spike, producers should focus on cow comfort, cow cleanliness and precise milking protocols.

Cow Comfort – Keep bedding clean and dry! During wet weather, take extra time to focus on stall management. Rake away any wet organic material or manure and replace with fresh bedding. Deep bedding replaced less often is worse than more-shallow bedding that producers replace daily.

Producers who use recycled manure solids or bedded packs as bedding must take extra precautions during wet weather by removing solid bedding often.For animals let out on pasture, provide a dry area for cows to come lie down. Use your best judgement when the weather gets soggy. If pastures are too muddy, leave animals indoors.

Cow Cleanliness – When cows enter the parlor, conduct a quick survey on animal cleanliness. Are their udders dry and manure free? Be thorough when wiping away dirt and bedding debris before milking and focus on forestripping.

While it’s tempting to forego forestripping in your milking routine to save time and effort, forestripping offers multiple benefits to the cow and, ultimately, to your bottom line. Strip at least three to five streams of milk to help lower SCC levels and monitor mastitis prevalence.

Milking Protocols- Before attaching the milking unit, be sure to leave pre-milking teat dip on for a minimum of 20 seconds. Clean, dry, cloth towels laundered daily are the teat-end cleaning tools of choice when milking. Take time to dip all teats with a postmilking dip as soon as possible after milking. Have at least two-thirds or more of the complete teat covered with postmilking teat dip.

It is also important to keep all milking equipment in good working order. Develop a routine performance check and maintenance program to keep your parlor in check. Replace rubber parts at recommended intervals and be sure system cleaning is done consistently and properly.

For more on controlling somatic cell counts, read:

Pros & Cons of Cow Mats: Analysis of Rubber Flooring

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:15:11 GMT

This article is part 1 in a multiple part series on rubber flooring for dairy cows. Also see part 2 on the technical aspects of resurfacing your dairy flooring and part 3 on installation and maintenance of dairy flooring .

Most dairy producers consider rubber flooring for holding pens, lanes and alleys a too-pricey luxury.

But an analysis developed by Brian Holmes , a University of Wisconsin ag engineer, suggests a second look. “For the few cases that I’ve run through the analysis so far, adding rubber mats turns out to be a no-brainer,” he says. “It pays for itself easily when the benefits are taken into consideration.”

Benefits of rubber mats for dairy cows

The benefits of rubber flooring: less lameness, better reproduction and possibly more milk per cow.

But there are pitfalls as well, Holmes says. For example, if your freestalls are uncomfortable, cows could opt to lie in alleys on the rubber mats. And that could spark a rise in somatic cell counts and mastitis.

In addition, if lameness or reproduction isn’t a problem in your herd, adding rubber flooring probably won’t be of much noticeable benefit. “Cows will stand more in the feed alley when rubber is laid down,” Holmes acknowledges. “But research shows they won’t eat any more feed; they simply stand less in stalls.”

Strategic prioritization of high-traffic areas

If you have to prioritize, put rubber flooring in places where cows do a lot of walking, turning and pivoting: in walk lanes to the parlor, the holding pen, the parlor and return lanes.

Holmes has not made the analysis publicly available because it takes a bit of time to understand. But he is willing to work with dairy producers who want to run the numbers on their facilities.

“If you can tell me what the numbers are, I can evaluate if rubber flooring is cost-effective in your facility,” he says.

To determine if rubber flooring is cost-beneficial for your dairy cows, you’ll need the following:

The area of rubber you want to install.
The installation cost of the rubber per square foot.
The rates of improvement you expect in lameness and reproduction in your herd.

Other considerations when installing rubber flooring include: labor rates, savings in hoof treatment time, percentage of cows with locomotion scores of 1 to 5, value of improved days open and medication costs.

When you have that information, you can contact Holmes at brian.holmes@wisc.edu .

Interested in researching further? A number of studies have been conducted on the benefits of rubber flooring for dairy cows: