If you are building a new free stall barn, you have
made or are making important decisions that you, your family, your cows and
your banker have to live with for decades to come. You will have at least
read a great deal of literature and talked to many people and probably travelled
to see some operations to get first hand knowledge on this vast subject.
Hoards "PLAN GUIDE FOR FREE STALL SYSTEMS" states "We want to provide feeding,
milking, handling and environment so the genetically superior cows are able
to milk up to potential. Said another way, we don't want facilities to be
the factor that limits milk production."
The following are some management tips that should be adhered to at the time
of occupancy. Some of the elements of this plan must be acted upon early on
in your new building program. Not all of them have to do with construction.
- All cow traffic walking surfaces should be finished
smooth and flat for cow foot comfort (getting down with your bare knees
on the floor is the test).
- New concrete should be flushed with a solution of
40 to 1 water to muriatic acid to neutralize the alkalinity of the floors
of all cow traffic areas.
OR new concrete surfaces can be coated with one or two coats (until water beads) of concrete floor sealer. This not only coats the floors so the hooves don't come in contact with the high PH concrete, it also protects the concrete from absorbing harmful acidic solutions such as urine (also an excellent idea on slats which all contain steel rebar for structural integrity or sand blasted, milled or planed concrete where new surfaces are exposed). Call for more information.
- Cut grooves 1/2" wide by 3/8" to 7/16"
deep two ways, giving a diamond pattern to provide skid control.
- Do not trim hooves within six months of planned
occupancy.
- Leave old, frail cows or cows you feel will not
be able to stand the competition of the new facility.
- Be sure all construction debris has been picked
up from feeding driveway alley and all cow walking surfaces. Do a walk through
with the following checklist:
- bolts, nails wire protruding from cement walls
and curbs,
shards of sheet metal, screws, wire etc. anywhere in feeding driveway alley, - sharp stones, screws, bolts, wire and sheet
metal shards in
all cow traffic areas.
- bolts, nails wire protruding from cement walls
and curbs,
- Plan your cow transfer day so that you have lots
of help around to move the cows in a calm orderly and safe manner.
NOTE- Cows have been lost due to one or more of the following:
grading was not completed sufficient to allow for a level unloading of the transport trailer.
- cows were entered onto feeding driveway alley.
- excited cows clambered through cable style feed
mangers onto smooth concrete.
- cows were entered onto feeding driveway alley.
The above list probably is not complete. If you can think of any more tips
that should be on it , please call us or write with your suggestions. If we
can be of any assistance to you, please contact us. Thanks.
January 1997.
Vern Foley, President, G.C.G. Inc.
Contact Vern Foley
