Housing

Building a Heat Abatement Plan for a 200-Cow Freestall BarnA worked planning example using extension design figures for holding pens, freestalls, water and triggers.
Cow Comfort in Freestall Barns: Stalls, Bedding, Ventilation and Lying TimeA cow that rests well milks well. How freestall design, bedding and air quality show up in the bulk tank and the hoof trimmer's report.
Freestall Design and Lameness: What Herd Surveys Say About Cow ComfortStall size, surface and stocking decide how long a Holstein stays off her feet, and her feet show it.
Heat Abatement: Shade, Fans, Soakers and the ROI of EachCooling Holsteins costs real money, and the research suggests it often pays back faster than almost any other barn upgrade.
Confinement vs. Pasture: How Housing Shapes Holstein Behavior and PerformanceWhere a Holstein lives changes how she lies, walks, eats and copes with weather, and the trade-offs cut both ways.
The Transition Pen That Works: Design, Stocking Density, and ManagementSpace, bunk access, comfort and daily monitoring decide whether close-up and fresh cows transition smoothly.