While dairy cows can not physically compute elements that make specific stalls and placements along the feedbunk more suitable than others, studies at the Miner Institute show that certain areas in the barns are preferred by the cows over others.
“A few study papers imply that cows may prefer some stalls over others. “In some studies, cows were more likely to be lying in stalls closest to the feed alley rather than stalls located on the back side of a pen,” noted Rick Grant of the Miner Institute in the October Miner Institute Farm Report.
Similarly, several studies have shown that cows prefer sleeping in stalls at the end of a stretch of stalls. Less study has been done on feedbunk preferences, although time lapse cameras show that cows prefer some places over others.
“Cows, regardless of lameness status, also exhibited a strong preference for eating at feedbunk sections closest to the pen exit gate between about 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., but not at night,” Grant observed, referring to a recent Miner Institute study.
The same study showed that lame cows chose freestalls closest to the pen entrances.
What is the significance of this?
While a cow’s preferred stall may seem to be a trivial and inconsequential portion of the day when compared to the ration it eats or the care it gets, pen preferences may affect both aspects of a cow’s day.
“At Miner Institute we’ve observed a 40% reduction in time spent ruminating in the stall when subordinate cows were lying in stalls preferred by dominant cows,” Grant went on to say.
“When we consider the impact that rumination has on rumen health and cow performance, that is truly something to ruminate on.”
Consider the influence of a cow’s favorite freestall and how that can vary if the animal is unable to move to that spot in the case of lame cows. It may also cause rivalry for the cows in the most readily accessible areas.
Consider the effect at the feedbunk. According to preliminary studies, if a cow’s favored dining place runs out of feed, the animal may not move down to a position with more feed and instead avoid eating entirely.
More study is needed to understand the potential ramifications of cow location preferences. As a result, Grant’s final remarks are extremely poignant.
“It is unlikely that all cows in a pen will use all resources in the pen uniformly.” Future housing design and management practices must account for this as we learn more to provide enough access to pen resources for all cows,” Grant said.
