Farmer Spotlight
Attention to detail leads to cow comfort
| Ken & Tom Miller |
Texas |
450 |
On our dairy, cow care and comfort is an overriding philosophy that every family member and employee shares. As a family, we recognize that our cows are the source of our livelihood and they totally depend on us for their care. We take great pride in the fact that our cows are as comfortable as they can be at all times.
We’ve implemented a number of procedures specifically to provide more comfort for the “girls in the barn.” It’s rewarding to see contented cows relaxing in total comfort and chewing their cud - - that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
Our cows are housed in a covered freestall barn where they each have a large, open stall filled with soft bedding made from a special mixture of compost and recycled rice hulls. The bedding is tended at least three times a day to clean and level it and add more cushion if needed. The cows like the bedding so much that they often get in the way of the workers while the bedding is being tended. They act as though we’ve fluffed their pillows and they are ready to test the softness. They are pampered girls!
Since Texas has such hot summers, we have taken great care to provide a cool, shady environment for the cows. Not only is the barn open on all sides to catch the breeze, but there are large fans and water misters above the cows. Cows are definitely creatures of habit. They know how often the misters spray and make sure they’re under the sprinkler at the right time. In the summer, our barn is the coolest location on the dairy farm.
In addition to the physical comfort of our cows, we pay close attention to their nutritional needs. They have free access to water and special feed rations that our nutritionist helps us formulate. The ration is adjusted daily based on each cow’s feed intake and her special needs. To produce superior quality milk, we have to provide top quality feed along with dedicated care for the cows.
An example of this is that we’ve recently changed procedures in our milking parlor and now use a soft micro-fiber cloth to clean the cows’ teats before milking. We had used paper towels for years, but felt the cloth would be softer - - plus we can wash, sanitize and re-use the cloths to save a lot of trees over the years. You can tell the cows actually like the softness of the cloth because they stand very still and calmly when they are being wiped down and, as a result, we’ve actually seen an increase in the amount of milk the cows produce.
It’s all about calm, comfortable cows, and frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
