Jeffrey Bewley is a Dairy Housing and Analytics Specialist with Alltech who has over two decades of professional experience. He’s been working in the dairy industry since 1989, and he’s passionate about his field.
Presently, he also works as a Consultant with CowFocused Housing in Kentucky. Cow comfort housing is among his primary areas of focus, and he has earned a positive reputation for his success in dairy housing projects.
If you were to ask a specialist like Jeffrey Bewley for tips on cow comfort housing, they’d probably start by outlining the basics,
which are touched on below:
Water
Cows should be given access to palatable water for at least twenty-one hours every day for proper hydration.
Food
Cows should be given access to palatable and nutritious food for at least twenty-one hours every day for proper nourishment.
Air
Cows should live in an environment where the air is clean to avoid lung issues.
Light
Cows should be given access to light for eighteen hours per day, with at least six hours of darkness each day.
Rest
Cows should be given a dry space to lie down in for at least twelve hours per day.
Space
Cows should have enough space to walk to their feeding and watering areas without fear, obstruction or injury.
When a specialist like Jeffrey Bewley works with a dairy farm, they cover the basics above with further focus on daily time budgets for the cattle to ensure productivity and health.
Source: https://www.dairyherd.com/article/cow-comfort-back-basics