Where do Dairy Cows live?
There are a couple of basic variations in dairy cattle housing – the tie-stall or free stall setup. Size of herd and the farmer’s preferences for management and milking all play a part in housing decisions. In a traditional tie-stall operation the cow stays in her own stall where she has ample room to stand up and lie down comfortably. Her bed is made of straw, wood shavings or synthetic mats that ensure her comfort. She has free access to water at all times and feed is available in her manger. She is kept beside her herd mates in aisles that allow the farmer to keep her clean and content while allowing her to be milked efficiently. The milk travels through a pipeline that runs through the barn to a bulk storage tank in the milk house. Farm managers of larger herds may prefer large, open barns known as free-stall barns. Twice a day, or more, the cows will enter a milking parlour, an area designed specifically for ease and efficiency of milking, and the rest of the time they spend loung
