Replacing labor-intensive tasks with technology was one of the goals when building a new three-row freestall barn with 50 stalls to replace the older tiestall barn at the University of Maine’s Witter Farm in Old Town. The new barn features one DeLaval VMS Series V300 robot for the 61-cow herd (30 lactating as of May 2025) as well as automatic ventilation.

The newest addition to Washington State University’s (WSU) Knott Dairy Center (KDC) is a flexible, compost-bedded pack barn that houses developmental and pregnant heifers, dry cows and has space for a pen of research animals. Construction began in July 2024 and was completed in June 2025.

The decision to invest in a new automated milking barn represents a significant step toward modernizing your operation. With it comes the opportunity for enhanced efficiency, improved cow welfare and higher revenues. The success of a project hinges on meticulous planning that considers the intricate interplay among numerous factors.

When it comes to bedding for dairy farms, choosing the right material can have a significant impact on both the health of the cows and the overall efficiency of the farm.

Proper airflow in milking parlors and holding areas is essential for the well-being of the herd and the efficiency of dairy operations. By effectively removing heat, moisture, odors and contaminants produced by the cows, proper ventilation ensures the cows' comfort, prevents heat stress, maintains good air quality and supports animal health overall.

For Aaron Ninnemann, his family’s dairy farm is a classic example of a generationally run business whose family members have worked diligently for decades, making a name for themselves within the dairy industry. The Ninnemanns embraced automated milking in a tiestall barn retrofit to keep dairying alongside a growing cash crop operation.

Being prepared for the heat will result in the least amount of stress on the cows and the people dealing with these animals. The environment where the cows reside is the critical area of the barn to evaluate. Keep the ventilation system, including doors and fans, set to where the system was designed. These actions will allow cooler heads (and cows) to prevail.

Cow comfort and herd health are essential factors to achieve higher milk quality and production. Bedding plays a critical role in both, which is why many dairy farms have long relied on sand as their go-to bedding. However, questions sometimes arise as to which bedding is better – fresh or recycled sand?