Transition Cow Barn E

DESCRIPTION

Socially-stable groups in this pre-fresh portion of the transition cow housing at the University of Wisconsin Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center allows for the formation of four, 10 to 12-cow groups that remain together for the duration of their ~30-day pre-fresh period in bedded pack pens. Attended calvings are performed in one of two individual cow pens on the east end nearest a work room complete with chutes and veterinary supplies. All other cows calve in the pen in which they have spent their pre-fresh period. Corner catch gates with self-locking headlocks allow a single person to handle a cow in need of care in the group pens. Headlocks along the feedline allow for easy handling of cows for vaccinations and management tasks, as well as decreasing the number of agressive displacements at the feed bunk. The bedded pack design allows for more than ample feed space for intake-sensitive pre-fresh cows. Far-off dry cows are housed in a single group in freestalls in another part of the facility.
For more information about the Emmons Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center, please click here.