Freestall barn design concepts center around optimizing stall occupancy each day while minimizing bed contamination. Four pieces of stall anatomy serve to achieve this by positioning the cow correctly in the stall: the divider loop, neck rail, brisket locator and deterrent wire.

Effective ventilation and cooling of dairy housing facilities are keys to keeping cows safe and productive, lessening health risks and protecting your bottom line. But finding the right fit for your farm depends on a host of factors, including facility design, geography and building orientation. In search of a solution? Here are some common questions and answers about cooling and ventilation to get you started.

I had a friend tell me one time that my dad was like his: “He doesn’t care what it looks like as long as it runs.” My thought was, “This guy sure doesn’t know David Overbay.” One thought that was drilled into me from a boy is that cleaner really does run better, and one of Dad’s favorite sayings when asked why he bought a new tractor or took the time to paint an old one was, “Every once in a while, I like to burn the paint off a manifold.”

As summer comes to an end, we must remember that heat stress can still play a role in our dairy production and that we still need to be vigilant on heat abatement for our dairy herds. We may be enjoying some cooler weather, but for high-producing dairy cows, the temperature is still running plenty warm for peak production. Days warmer than 50ºF still can create problems in the holding pens and milking parlors where cows are crowded together.

Just like our trucks and tractors, milking equipment requires regular service to ensure it operates optimally and safeguards the health of the herd. There are many benefits associated with a proactive approach to scheduled service in the milking parlor. The payback associated with a scheduled service program can be seen in the form of increased production and less downtime due to unplanned interruptions in the milking process.