Dairy Well

Housing should be designed to provide protection from inclement weather and maintained to be soft and dry. All animals should be provided all reasonable protection from both heat and cold.

Calves must have shelter provided to them, while other groups of animals must have overhead shade provided to them.

All groups of animals must also have additional means of protection from poor weather, including one or more of the following:

• Overhead shade at the feed bunk
• Fans
• Soakers
• Wind breaks
• Deep bedding
• Heat
• Calf jackets
• Adequate feed to maintain body condition

Shade provided should be enough for a reasonable number of animals to use.

Which animals to assess:

Housing for all age groups must be evaluated for shelter (calves) or overhead shade (heifers and cows) and at least one additional protection.

Acceptable

Unacceptable

National Dairy FARM Program

All age classes of animals must have all reasonable means of protection from heat and cold.

Hospital pens must have protection from heat and cold through shade, fans, water, cooling, and windbreaks.

Validus

• All animals must have access to shade: 50 sq. ft. for 800lbs. plus animals; 25 sq. ft. for smaller animals
• Where dictated by winter conditions, shelter (e.g. windbreaks, mounding) is required
• Animals giving birth outside must have shelter and protection from weather conditions
• Cooling should be provided in the holding pen