Cow Comfort

Sensor-based soaking helps to mitigate heat stress while conserving resources

dveeneman@inbarn.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sensor-based soaking delivers cooling when and where cows need it and uses cow activity to drive system response. When nozzles open because a cow is present and close when she leaves, cooling becomes both more effective and more efficient.

Managing the inevitable: Supporting through stress for health and productivity

carie_telgen@diamondv.com — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As an industry, we have made great strides in optimizing cow comfort, improving animal welfare and finding ways to minimize stress in our herds. However, there are still times throughout their lives that our cattle may undergo stressful events, whether it is social or physical.

Spring checklist: Preparing your dairy’s ventilation system for warmer weather

marmstrong@canarm.ca — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

As warmer weather approaches, preparing fans and ventilation systems should be a top priority for dairy producers. Heat stress can begin at relatively mild temperatures, especially when humidity is high, and its impact on intake, reproduction and health can linger long after temperatures cool.

3 Open Minutes with Dr. Nigel Cook

kimmi@agproud.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

During a Dairyland Initiative podcast episode, Courtney Halbach and Dr. Nigel Cook discussed how to manage sand bedding in freestalls. Progressive Dairy visited with Cook to follow up on a few of the topics covered and discuss the most important points he would like dairy producers to know when bedding freestalls with sand.

Are your cows sports cars or farm trucks?

clemence.nash@novusint.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Dream of a high-performance sports car and a Corvette or Camaro may come to mind. In many ways, dairy cows are high-performance machines too. However, some dairy producers may still treat their top-performing “cowmaros” like their old, trusty farm trucks, which may not allow the cows to reach their full genetic potential. Just like a sports car, cows require maintenance and upkeep. By treating your cows like top performers instead of old farm trucks, you can increase cow productivity and maximize profitability.

Now is the time to question your crowding

aaron_cornman@cargill.com — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Overcrowding is a commonly used management practice in our industry to maximize output and remain competitive, driven by economic pressures and limited space. Current heifer and beef prices and overall farm efficiency provide the opportunity to ask an important question: Do you know your farm’s optimal stocking number?

How to transition from a parlor to robots

antti.puuri@4dbarn.com — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:57:35 -0400

The transition from a traditional milking to automated milking is not always straightforward. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most important factors to address when planning the shift from a parlor to an automated milking system.

The 10 myths of managing heat stress

gmaldini@diamondv.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Every dairy in the U.S. has experienced the effects of heat stress on dairy cows. There are a variety of management practices dairy producers can use to proactively address heat stress before it happens or support the herd to lessen the impact once it arrives. Yet with all that we know about managing and mitigating heat stress, there are still misconceptions.

Essential tips to optimize cow comfort in the holding area

shaun@futurecow.com — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In our operations, holding area management and the proper use of a crowd gate play a crucial role in promoting a cow’s comfort and ensuring an optimal milk harvest experience during her daily parlor visits. While these tasks may seem straightforward, they require much more than just moving cows and running them through a parlor.

11 steps to prepare for the summer heat

dillg@standardnutrition.com — Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Are you focusing on these cow comfort essentials?

kristin.brommer@ves-artex.com — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ventilation, cooling, bedding, lighting, feed and water access are the main foundations of cow comfort. Focusing on these aspects when designing and building your dairy barn will greatly enhance cow comfort, leading to better milk production, reduced health issues and overall improved welfare.

Getting the fundamentals right in automated milking – and golf

john@cow-corner.co — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:39:03 -0500

There is a trend toward increased stocking density in automated milking barns. Quite a few farmers have made it work and made it look easy. It has worked for them because they have the fundamentals right.

Chris-Adie Holsteins: Staying cow-oriented while looking to the future

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In a conversation with Matthew and Mike Flaman of Chris-Adie Holsteins, it’s obvious that their cows are top priority. Terms like “cow flow” and “cow comfort” pepper their descriptions of the operation. With an average of 38-40 litres of milk per day, the Holsteins of Chris-Adie are well cared for.

What is the best bedding choice for cow comfort in stall barns?

evf5337@psu.edu — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Locomotion and hock scores, along with resting time, are indicators of the quality of the lying surface and bedding choice. With many bedding options available, this article provides recommendations for how to optimize each of them to improve cow comfort.

Making dried manure solids bedding work on your farm

halley.fobes@vaxxinova.com — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Dried manure solids are one of the most common bedding materials used on dairies today. Farms choose to use them because they also have several distinct advantages over other bedding types. However, no management decision comes without trade-offs, and farms using dried manure solids bedding must take steps to minimize their potential disadvantages.

[Podcast] Reyncrest Farm with Tyler and Mackenzie Reynolds

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Discussing cow comfort, genetics, succession planning and social media presence, brother and sister Tyler and Mackenzie Reynolds join host Matti McBride on this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast. Learn how a new barn has resulted in increased production, how three siblings returned to the western New York dairy, the impact genetics has had on Reyncrest Farm’s herd and the opportunities that come with showcasing dairy farming on social media.

What management practices and facility styles support better milk production?

clemence.nash@novusint.com — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The Novus C.O.W.S. Program has helped dairy farmers unlock bottlenecks in cow comfort and productivity across North America for over 12 years.

Which bedding type is best for your cows?

amber.adamsprogar@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

How do you choose the best bedding for your cows? Obvious considerations include bedding cost and availability, but there are a few less obvious considerations that will help you make the best decision for your farm. Take a look at them and discover which bedding fits your farm’s cow comfort goals.

Reduce heat stress with soaking

mario.mondaca@ves-artex.com — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress has been estimated to cost the dairy industry $897 million, and one of the most effective methods to alleviate heat stress is to cool the cow directly using low-pressure soaking. This article will focus on feedlane soaking but will also touch on other areas where soaking is used.

5 things to know about ventilation

dveeneman@inbarn.com — Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Proper ventilation not only ensures the health and well-being of your cows but also contributes to the overall efficiency and productivity of your dairy operation. In this article, we will delve into five essential aspects of dairy barn ventilation that every dairy producer should be well versed in.

Top 3 tips to improve cow comfort

amber.adamsprogar@gmail.com — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Based on my last 14 years studying cow behavior, three specific areas rise to the top of my list for improving cow comfort. If these three tips are addressed on your farm, your cows are or will be rewarding you with fewer cases of disease and an increase in milk production.

Bedding type considerations for cow health and comfort

Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Bedding type is a crucial component of cow comfort. Encouraging cows to spend more time lying and chewing their cud is the ultimate goal, but accomplishing that end has a plethora of considerations.

Dream Winds Dairy: Building their dreams from the ground up

kimmi@agproud.com — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The first six years after starting their dairy were action-packed for the Windemuller family as they purchased their property, economically grew their herd and converted existing buildings – including a turkey coop and a tiestall barn – into functional dairy facilities.

Maintain your ventilation system to maintain production

katlyn.langmeier@ves-artex.com — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The early spring season is the ideal time to give your fans the attention they need so that they can run at 100% performance. This should become part of the farm’s routine maintenance plan.

Respecting the cow: What does it cost you?

aibeatsthebull@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Are you as profitable as you could be with your current cow numbers? Cutting labor to the bone is not a path to profitability. Allowing the cow to be a cow is a much better move.

Protect lying time by reducing how long cows wait to be milked

courtney.halbach@wisc.edu — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Failure to permit cows to rest when they want to, for as long as they need to, has a negative impact on their ability to produce milk, become pregnant, stay healthy and remain in the herd.

Designing the right facility for your dairy operation

dhomb@boumatic.com — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:41:31 -0400

In this article, I’d like to share some common concerns I see arise and offer practical solutions. These are things you should consider during the design process whether you’re investing in a new facility or seeking to enhance an existing one.

Practical heat stress management tips

ofier@dairyschool.co.il — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy cows are vulnerable to heat stress. As temperatures rise, so does a cow’s body temperature and respiratory rate as she pants to cool down.

Using technology to create an animal-centered environment

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:54:54 -0400

Using technology allows you to automate, monitor and manage your barn environment from the palm of your hand. It minimizes human error and allows for focus on other tasks around the dairy instead of trying to control the barn.

Going from good to great with fans

dveeneman@inbarn.com — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Just buying fans and hanging them haphazardly around your barn is not going to be very helpful in your fight against the rising summer temperatures. There are a few key concepts that you need to consider to get it right.