Longer free stall flooring for more freedom when lying, lying down and getting up

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Large free stall dimensions are a standard feature of modern-day barn planning. This guarantees extra width and gentler animal control (dividers for more freedom of movement, flexible or curved neck rails, ergonomic brisket boards, ...). Furthermore, the design ensures greater depth in the free stalls.

Real-world experience with longer lying areas in elevated stalls has been very positive

When a free stall is set up and controlled properly (horizontal distance between neck rail and brisket board at least 25–30 cm), cows position themselves better when lying down and lie straighter and visibly more relaxed due to a greater amount of free space at the front. The general recommendation for the horizontal distance between the neck rail and the manure edge is 160–170 cm. To achieve this sufficient distance between the manure edge, the neck rail and the brisket board, free stall flooring measuring more than 1.9 m in length are needed. In combination with longer lying mats, this all adds up to the perfect solution.

This not only increases lying comfort, but also noticeably improves the cleanliness of cows and elevated stalls. The tails lie predominantly in the stall and the risk of hairless areas on the hock joints is reduced.

Is a brisket board then still necessary at all?

In many barns, the use of a brisket board is then no longer necessary. Correctly adjusted control devices can provide the desired benefits – the longer stall length makes this possible. This is another important piece of the puzzle to provide more freedom of movement for cows in free stalls, making it easier for them to lie down and get up and enabling more natural lying positions.

1.92 m long lying mats for maximum lying comfort

The proven KEW Plus mattress system as well as the new variant KEW Plus TarsaCare are available as single mats and as continuous roll systems with a length of 1.92 m. That certain extra lying comfort with KEW Plus TarsaCare is provided by the new, pliant comfort zone in the hock area – especially designed to be gentle on the sensitive hock joints and to bed them as dry as possible. For elevated deep bedded stalls, the maxiBOX is also available as a 2.15 m version with an internal dimension of 1.9 m (effective stall length of 2 m).