Cows refusing cubicles

When a dairy cow lays down in the walking alley, that means the cubicle is not comfortable for lying
For a cow to choose the cubicle as her lying area, the cubicle must be significantly more comfortable than the walking area
Animals used to a fully slatted pen or from tying stalls must learn to move correctly in the “new system” with separated cubicles
Climate effects: with a relative humidity above 70 % or more than 24° C the animals suffer from heat stress and seek the coolest places in the cubicle house (e.g. open doors)

When cows lie in the walking alley, the risk of claw and udder diseases increases. The animals get dirty, there is danger of injury and the total lying time is shorter.

Optimal:

sufficient space for pain free laying down / getting up and for natural lying positions
- e.g. flexible neck rail for animals of different sizes
- e.g. elastic brisket board, allowing for natural lying position with foreleg stretched out and the lying position can easily be changed
soft and dry lying area
a cubicle to cow ratio of 1:1, i.e. no overstocking!

Size differences within a herd:

Interesting Solution:

Cow lies relaxed with foreleg stretched-out in the cubicle and ruminates

Problematic:

Overstocking and insufficient cubicle comfort promote cubicle refusal, not completely lying in the cubicle and standing with the hind legs in the walking alley. The cows get dirtier and have a higher risk of claw diseases.

Tip: When cows refuse cubicles

improve LYING COMFORT, here the neck rail and brisket board are especially important
if possible let heifers get used to cubicles

Download as PDF file:

Cows refusing cubicles (125 kB)