DAIRY HOUSING MANAGEMENT - Veepro Holland · Dairy Housing Management, Volume 2, is the fifteenth in a series of management manuals published by Veepro Holland. In Dairy Housing Management,

DAIRY HOUSING MANAGEMENT

VOLUME 2

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FOREWORD

Publisher / Editor : VEEPRO HOLLAND Information centre for Dutch cattle / P.O.Box 454 /6800 AL ARNHEM / HOLLAND. As from 3 November 1997 our new telephone number will be**31 26 3898740 and our new fax number will be **31 26 3898744.Copyright © VEEPRO HOLLAND. Publication from this manual is permitted only after approval of VEEPRO HOLLANDand on condition of statement of the source. Photos: Alex Arkink and Veeteelt.

Dairy Housing Management, Volume 2, isthe fifteenth in a series of managementmanuals published by Veepro Holland. InDairy Housing Management, Volume 1, thebasic elements of suitable dairy housingwere described. This manual deals mainlywith the importance of good ventilation ofdairy housing and the manure handlingfacilities. Through these manuals VeeproHolland aims to provide you with usefulmanagement information and assistancein making profitable decisions for yourbusiness. Dairy cattle worldwide have tobe managed well to utilize their geneticpotential to full extent.No single booklet can cover a subject asdiverse and complex as dairying. Nor willprobably everyone associated withdairying agree on all points covered in onepublication. But we of Veepro Hollandbelieve the combination of this manualand other publications on the subject maybroaden your practical knowledge about

the design of dairy housing and willsubsequently contribute to a healthy andhighly productive herd.Veepro Holland is indebted to those whocontributed to this manual, particularly,ing. Dolf Smits, housing specialist of theInstitute of Agricultural and EnvironmentalEngineering (IMAG-DLO) at Wageningenand ing. Albert Pieters, farm buildings andstructures specialist of the Applied Re-search Station for Animal Husbandry (PR)at Lelystad for their constructive criticism.We would like to thank Rinke Oenema,Head of the Farm Mechanization and FarmBuildings Division of the IPC-Livestock/DairyTraining Centre ‘Friesland’ at Oenkerk forhis valuable assistance in the preparationof this manual.Many thanks also to those associations andpublishers who permitted us to use variousdata and illustrations.

VEEPRO HOLLAND

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INTRODUCTION

In dairy farming the well-being of livestockplays a significant role in obtainingoptimal herd results. Stress-free housingof dairy cattle is, amongst others, one ofthe main conditions for the realizationof this goal. It is important to providefeeding, milking, comfortable resting,cow handling and the environment ina way enabling cows to milk up totheir potential.

possible that dairies in different climaticalzones are able to obtain top milkproduction levels. Therefore, it is essentialto create an ideal environment for yourcows.Hot climatical conditions, especially in thetropics, depress milk production andreproductive performance in dairy cattleworldwide. Reducing heat stress candecrease or even eliminate these losses.

Heat stress occurs whenany combination ofclimatical conditionscause the effectivetemperature of theenvironment to be higherthan the requiredthermoneutral (comfort)zone of the animals.Please consult figure 1 onpage 4 to determine thedegree of heat stress fordairy cows. So let us firstdiscuss a few aspects ofgood dairy housing, suchas the importance ofgood ventilation forenclosed dairy barns,manure handling andstorage, the feeding rack,the handling and treat-ment facilities, and so on.

GOOD VENTILATION IS AMUST

A proper housing climateis one of the pre-condi-tions for maintaining anexcellent environment

within the various housing systems. It has agreat effect on the well-being and healthstatus of animals, and on overall perform-ance. Conditions should be created toenhance the animal’s inherent ability tocontrol its own temperature. Therefore,ventilation is essential for the supply offresh air, with the emphasis on maintaininga suitable air quality under any weathercondition over a long period of time.

The emphasis should be on well-designedand constructed facilities to encouragegood management and labour effi-ciency. Experienced dairy managers havealready realized that better housingfacilities contribute positively to better milkproduction performance. Nowadays it is

The well-being of cows is influenced by thehousing facility in which they are kept

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Adequate ventilation is needed for theremoval of harmful gases, such as carbondioxide and ammonia, avoidance ofmoisture accumulation and the removalof heat produced by animals (see table1). It should be kept in mind that a maturecow exhales about 12 litres of watervapour into the air each day. Under-ventilation can, in addition to animalhealth problems, lead to early deteriora-tion of the building’s structural compo-nents. Basically, the aim is to obtain drysurroundings, relatively free of excessivedrafts in winter and better ventilationduring warmer weather.Enclosed and well-ventilated barns arewell-proven dairy housing systems. Cowscan withstand low temperatures, provid-ing these barns are dry and free fromdrafts. The barn temperatures should bekept between -10° C and 20° C to create

an ideal environment. The optimum barntemperature is about 10° C. With increas-ing barn temperatures it becomes moredifficult for animals to get rid of theirproduced heat. In this situation evapora-tion becomes more important for dissipa-tion of heat. Dairy cows will consume lessfood in order to decrease their heatproduction, resulting in lower milk produc-tion. Thus the removal of heat plays animportant role in ventilation.

Too much ventilation is usually better thantoo littleMost ventilation systems make use ofnatural ventilation. Natural air movementis based on the principle that hot air islighter than cold air. The air within barns iswarmed up by the animal’s heat produc-tion. The warm air rises to the top of thebarn and consequently creates a lowerair pressure above the animals. Thus freshair enters the barn through the air inlets.Draught is usually the result of higher airspeeds at a lower air temperature in aspecific part of the barn and should beminimized. If draught occurs, the animal’stemperature will suddenly decrease

Adequate ventilation ensures the supply of freshair and removal of heat and moisture

Temperature 0C 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1002222.823.323.924.42525.626.126.727.227.828.328.929.43030.631.131.732.232.833.333.934.43535.636.136.737.237.338.338.939.64040.641.141.742.242.343.343.944.44545.446.146.747.247.348.349

Figure 1 Different stages of heat stress for dairycows in relation to temperature (0C)and percentage relative humidity

comfortable

mild st

ress

stre

ss

severe

stre

ss

possible

death

Tem

p. (

0 C) percentage relative humidity

5

substantially, which could affect its health.A healthy barn climate means muchventilation at low barn air speeds. In caseof a high degree of ventilation, thedifference between the outside andindoor temperatures will be limited. It isessential that enclosed barns have asufficient air volume per number ofanimals present to provide a freshclimate.Good natural ventilation is dependent onthe dimensions of the barn, the air inletand outlet, and the difference in heightbetween the air inlet and outlet. Barns oflarger dimensions will more easily providea constant climate for the animals. Wideand sufficiently high placed ventilationopenings prevent high air speeds aroundthe animals. Proper guidance of the airentering the barn by means of long inletvalve structures ensures good mixing offresh air and the air within the barn.Besides this, cooler air entering the barndoes not fall immediately on the animalsbelow the air inlet. New developmentsinclude horizontal ventilation with opensidewalls of the barn, which can beclosed during colder weather withroll-away windbreak curtains.

Air outletIn case of natural ventilation, an openroof ridge is ideal for the air outlet. The airoutlet must be large enough to ensureadequate removal of air mixed withammonia, carbon dioxide, moisture andheat. The size of the air outlet openingdepends, amongst others, on thefollowing factors:• the heat production per animal;• the number of animals;• the difference between indoor and

outside temperature.The heat production per animal is mainly

determined by the cow’s level of milkproduction. The recommended (mini-mum) amount of air to be ventilated(ventilation capacity) within the barn fordifferent milk production levels is given intable 1. The recommended ridge open-ings mentioned in table 1 are appropriatefor most Western European weatherconditions. In these climatical zones(temperate) the wind has a greatinfluence on the ventilation system.

Table 1 Heat production, ventilation capacity and recommended ridge opening at differentproduction levels at a barn temperature of 20 °C, temperature difference of 5° C betweenindoors and outside, difference in outlet/inlets heights of 5 meters.

milk production(in kg)

heat production(in Watt)

ventilation capacity(m3/hour)

open ridge(cm2/cow)

60008000

10000

759865971

460524588

108012301380

Calculation exampleWith the aid of an example, a properinsight is given into the correct size of theventilation openings. In an enclosed barnwith free stalls (2 + 2 rows of free stalls) 100dairy cows are housed over a total lengthof 32 meters. Assuming a milk production

A dry and fresh stable climate contributes to thehealth of animals

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of 10,000 kg, the amount of airventilated should be 588 m3/hour/cow. The desired open ridge widthshould then be at least:

100 x 1380/3200 = 43 centimeters

100 is number of cows1380 is the desired ridge openingin cm2/cow3200 is length of the barn incentimeters

Air inletThe air inlet openings should belarge enough for the supply offresh air. The air inlets and outletsare interrelated. If the air inlets areenlarged, the ventilation processwill improve only if the open ridgeis enlarged as well. The air inlets should beconstructed in the sidewall about 2 meterabove the floor level in that part of thebarn where animals are housed. Theyshould be about 150% of the air outletopening. In the above example, thiswould be: 43 cm x 150% = 65 centimetersdivided by 2 sidewalls, resulting in a heightof 33 centimeters for both sidewall airinlets.

Slope of the roofThe desired roof slope of barns should beabout 25° to guarantee optimal naturalventilation. This degree of slope facilitatesan easier upward air flow to the ridge ofthe barn. The roof construction should bemade strong enough to carry a load ofsnow in climates where snow may build upon the roof.

MANURE HANDLING AND STORAGE

Proper management of manure andwaste effluent are essential for the well-being of animals, work force, and theenvironment within and around the farm.Under no conditions may the slurrypenetrate into the groundwater. Hygieniccircumstances are a pre-requisite foranimal health, milk quality, odour and

insect control. Because of the complexity,it is essential to consult waste manage-ment specialists. Handling manure andother wastes should be made an integralpart of dairy farm management.Furthermore, it is recommended to obtainin-depth advice from the local authoritiesto comply with the regulations for environ-mental control at farm level beforeconstruction begins.The emphasis should be on a manure andeffluent handling system that providessimple and easy cleaning facilities for cowtraffic lanes, milking parlour and exerciseyards. The choice of free stall beddinginfluences the design of the manurehandling system. Consider long-termwaste storage with minimized odouremission. During the planning stage youshould make an objective appraisal of themanure and effluent production anddecide whether, and if so, when andwhere to spread or to sell the manure. Askyourself if it is worthwhile to utilize manurenutrients in your cropping programme tooffset the use of commercial fertilizers.Early planning is crucial, because of thegenerated on-farm volume of manureand effluent and how to manage it. Forthe estimation of liquid storage facilities,you should consider that a mature cow

Slatted floors are recommended fortemperate and cold climatical zones

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(8,000 kgs of milk) produces about 2 m3 ofslurry each month. Another ½ m3 per cowshould be added for cleaning andwashing the milking parlour facilities. It isrecommended to keep your direct rainwater run-off from roofs and farm surfacewater separated from the manure storage.The system should fit in the climatical zoneand is divided into a wet or dry method.The dry method is only applicable in dryareas. These methods can include:

Slatted floorsSlatted floors are widely and successfullyused in collecting manure from dairyhousing in conjunction with under-the-barnmanure storage. This system is commonlyused in the Netherlands and is recom-mended for temperate and cold climaticalzones. It is not recommended for arid andtropical zones. The concrete slats requirean excellent design and construction.They must be reinforced to withstand theload of animals and be placed in such away as to prevent shifting of slats. The slatsshould taper from top to bottom and,depending on the age of the animals, laidinterspaced 3 or 4 centimeters on thesurface. The slats should have a slip-resistant top surface for good footing,with rounded edges to prevent foot injuriesand to improve cleaning.

Scraping methodsA mechanical scraping system on con-crete floors can effectively remove solidsand liquid manure. This system consists ofone or more sets of scraping bladesattached to a cable or chain and pulledby a controlled power unit. Some me-chanical or hydraulic scrapers are control-led by a timing device. These automatictimers do not eliminate the need forregular observation during periods whenthe scraper is in operation.There are also self-propelled scrapersavailable in combination with a speciallydesigned type of floor and a sprinklersystem which may use the waste water ofthe milking parlour. The best results frommechanically scraping systems areachieved when manure is removedfrequently. The system should operate onan every-other-hour basis to ensurecleaner traffic lanes and less odouremission. It also prevents manure fromfreezing to the floor during frost. Anadvantage of this system is the lowammonia emission.Scraper blades attached to the rear oftractors have a proven record as reliablecollection devices. It requires a higherinvestment and more labour. Whenplanning tractor cleaning it is recom-mended to have sufficiently wide cow

traffic lanes withsufficient space atthe end of the lanefor tractor turning.Furthermore, thecurb of the freestalls must be about20 centimeters inheight to minimizethe migration ofmanure into thebedded area ofthe stalls duringscraping.

A mechanical scrap-ing system for concretefloors can effectivelyremove manure

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Selecting a manurestorage systemThe choice of the manurestorage system dependson the state of themanure to be handled,viz. solid manure, semi-solid slurry or liquid. Theaddition of bedding orwater to the manure is ofinfluence on its conforma-tion for the kind ofstorage, collection orslurry pumping method,and the selection ofequipment therefor.Manure can be stored inpit structures underneathbarns with slatted floors,enclosed above-groundstorage silos, slurry ponds and lagoonswith plastic wall-lining to prevent pollutingsurface soil and ground water.For maintaining a homogeneous fluid it isnecessary to agitate the slurry. Whenagitating the manure stored under thebarn care should be taken that sufficientventilation is provided inside the barn,especially in those with slatted floors.Never enter manure storage tanks withouta special breathing apparatus, or withouta rope attached to your waist and heldby another person for emergency.Dangerous methane and hydrogensulfide gasses can be fatal!Depending on climatic conditions andexisting environmental laws, it is desirableto have storage facilities which can holdat least 6 months’ manure production. Thisflexibility allows for awaiting the growingseason for field application to minimize soilcompaction and to maximize nutrientbenefits for grazing or for croppingpurpose.The capital investment in equipment,maintenance, fuel and electricity, andthe running cost should be consideredwhen comparing the annual costs of thevarious manure handling systems.

THE FEEDING RACK

Optimal feeding requires that animalsreceive the correct amount of feeds fortheir respective milk production. Installa-tion of lock-in stanchions with head gatesat the feed table allows for capturing andrestraining the animals. Rations can befed more accurately without cowsexpressing their social dominance. In dairyherds the stanchions have differentvaluable uses also for other managementpractices, such as vaccinations, treat-ment, artificial insemination, pregnancychecking, and so on. They save time andat the same time reduce the risks of injuryto animals. The feeding racks can bedivided into two systems:• self-locking stanchions;• diagonal stanchions.The self-locking stanchions are usuallyinstalled for dairy cows and enable thefarmer to quickly fasten and release cows.Furthermore, the system has the advan-tage that animals can be un-lockedindividually or groupwise. The recom-mended feeding space width for maturecows should be 65 to 75 centimeters,depending on the size of the animals.

Installation of lock-instanchions with headgates at the feed tableallows for optimal feeding

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In hotter climates it is recommended touse a spacing of 75 centimeters formature cows to ease dissipation of bodyheat. The feeding rack of the diagonaltype is often used for younger stock.The feed table is an integral part of thefeed driveway and should be about 10centimeters above the barn floor level,thus causing less physical load on thecow’s front part when eating. Cows preferto eat in a natural grazing-like position. It isrecommended to have a 75 centimeterswide flat feed table in front of the feedingrack. The feed driveway should have awidth of about 5.50 meters between thetwo feeding racks for easy driving throughof feed mixer wagons.It should be kept in mind that somefeedstuffs (ensiled foddercrops) containacids that tend to etch the concretesurface and may affect the feed table.Therefore, the surface quality of theconcrete, on which the feeds are pro-vided, should be of a high standard. Toreduce deterioration of the concrete, thefeed table should be lined with an acid-resistant material to increase lifespan,

such as:• ceramic tiles;• synthetic material;• polyester concrete.

HANDLING AND TREATMENT FACILITIES

Through proper herd health control,premature culling of cows can be kept atan acceptable level. Therefore, soundfacilities for sick cows and calving cowsare essential. They should be draft-free,dry and well ventilated. The pens shouldhave separate water bowls for drinking.The most appropriate location for thepens is along the exit lane of the milkingparlour to facilitate separation of cowsfrom the herd after milking. Bringing theminto the herd again takes little time.Another advantage of this location is thatcows remain in visual contact withherdmates, which prevents social isolationand stress. The number of pens neededper herd depend on the total number ofcows. For optimal care three types ofpens are needed, whereby the percent-ages mentioned below may serve as a

guideline:• separation pen 4%• maternity pen 3%•`treatment pen 3%

Separation penThe separation pen maybe used for cows in heat,pregnancy diagnosis,artificial insemination,taking cows’ temperaturesand for cows needingshort-time treatment. Thecows in need of attentionshould be taken directly tothe separation pen aftermilking and be returnedquickly to the herd aftertreatment. This results insaving on labour andprevents disturbance ofthe herd.

The feed table should beabout 10 centimeters abovethe barn floor level tofacilitate eating

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Maternity penA well-equipped maternity pen is a must.A few days before the expected calvingdate the cow should be taken to thematernity pen to get used to its newenvironment. Cows near calving shouldhave visual contact with herdmates, asthis significantly contributes to a smootherbirth process. It is recommended to locatethe maternity pen at the feeding laneand close to the milking parlour. In view ofthe short distance the cow can be milkedeasily in the parlour after calving. Forlarger dairies it is recommended to haveseparate milking facilities.The cows should stay in the maternity penfor about 24 hours after the release of theafterbirth. After recovery they can bebrought into the herd again. After eachcalving, the maternity pen should becleaned and disinfected thoroughly. Therecommended dimensions of the mater-nity pen should be at least 4.0 x 3.0 metresin order to have sufficient space behindthe cow during calving in case assistanceis needed.

Treatment penThe treatment pen isused for sick cows whomust be kept separatedfrom the herd for a longerperiod of time. Combin-ing individual treatmentstalls with the maternitypens allows for versatilityand convenience forveterinary services. Theconstruction of walls andfloors should allow foreasy cleaning anddisinfecting to maintainthe highest possiblehygienic standards.

PROVISION OF LIGHT

In enclosed barn systemshigher demands aremade in regard to theprovision of natural lightthan those in open freestall housing systems.Windows in the sidewalls

and light openings in the roof structure arepreferred for the provision of daylight. Inenclosed barn systems the recommendedwindow surface should be about 1/20 ofthe floor surface area and as a rule ofthumb the artificial lighting should beabout 60 watts of fluorescent lighting per5 mature cows.

PROVISION OF WATER

A dependable water source plays a vitalrole in supplying fresh water to cattle.Ample fresh water supply is essential andits quality must be good and without anyflavour. Your water supply may look andtaste good, but the only way to be sure ofits quality is through a complete analysisand regular quality monitoring. It maycontain impurities which could hampereffective cleaning or even present ahealth hazard. It is recommended to

The provision of natural light in enclosed barnsystems is a must

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provide watering troughs in pens for every30 to 40 cows.It is necessary to check the capacitiesand requirements of all equipment as wellas the needs for potable water andcleaning purposes. Your estimated wateruse depends for example on:• consumption by cows, heifers and

calves;• cleaning of milking parlour pipeline

milking systems;• group spray washers in holding areas,

udder washing and cleaning;• washing of milking parlour, holding

areas;• evaporative cooling systems in hot

climates.

HOLDING AREA

The holding pen should be a separate butan integral part of the milking facilitiesand designed to hold, guide and preparecows for entering the parlour. The holdingarea can be equipped with gates thatopen to return lanes and treatmentfacilities, and can also be used for sortingand grouping of cows. For larger herds aholding area in front of the milking parlouris essential for obtaining an increased

parlour capacity. Group sizesshould be kept in multiples ofthe number of stalls on oneside of the parlour. In paralleland herringbone configura-tion, sizing of groups in thismanner will eliminate theneed for blocking off asection of the stalls to milkpartial groups.The size of the holding areashould be based on thenumber of cows to be milkedand the number of milkingsessions per day. Ideal wouldbe to keep a group of cowsno longer than 1 to 1½ hoursat each milking in the holdingarea. The sizing of the holdingarea should be based on a

floorspace of about 1½ m2 per cow forlarger breeds. The length of the holdingpen should be about twice its width foreasy funneling of cows into the parlour.Udder washing facilities (mushroomwashers) can be incorporated in theholding area to obtain cleaner udders.Installing a crowd gate in the holding areaencourages the cows to advancevoluntarily into the milking parlour. The useof a crowd gate helps in maximizingparlour output. The crowd gate can beautomatically advanced by pushbuttonoperation to guide the cows towards theparlour entrance. Besides this, it keeps theavailable space for cows in the holdingarea relatively constant and allows forcontinuous milking, because a secondgroup of cows can be moved into theholding pen behind the crowd gate,when about two-thirds of the cows fromthe first group have been milked.After milking, the cows should be enabledto drink water and afterwards walkstraight to the feeding area and remainstanding for about an hour to allow theteat sphincter to close sufficiently and theteat dip to act to prevent bacteria fromentering the udder. For this purpose aself-locking feeding rack is very useful.

Fresh and good-quality water isessential for dairy cattle under allcircumstances

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SUMMARY

A well-designed housing system for dairycattle should be the basis, with theemphasis on cow comfort and manage-ability. Thorough study of the manurehandling and storage opportunities makesthe management job easier and moredesirable and promotes efficiency.

The general guidelines for proper dairyhousing design are:

1. constructing building facilities toincrease comfort and manageabilityof cows;

2. optimising labour efficiency by provid-ing desirable working conditions;

3. planning with the emphasis onlogistical lines for cow traffic patterns;

4. maintaining adequate ventilation inenclosed barns under all weathercircumstances;

5. planning an appropriate manurehandling and storage system, whichcomplies with legal requirements forenvironmental control;

6. providing sufficient space per cow atthe feeding rack;

7. keeping apart maternity and separa-tion pens to provide hygienic circum-stances;

8. having sufficient natural or artificiallighting available;

9. providing sufficient drinking space forall animals;

10. keeping holding area separate fromfree stall area.

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FURTHER REFERENCES

• Proper Milking Management• Udder Health Management• Forage Management• Fresh Cow Management• Dairy Herd Administration Management• Successful Artificial Insemination

Management• Dairy Housing Management, Volume 1

Earlier publications:

• Reproduction Management• Young Stock Management• Foot Care Management• Feeding Management, Volume 1• Feeding Management, Volume 2• Milking Machine Management, Volume 1• Milking Machine Management, Volume 2

• The housing of Dairy Cows and Young Stock; Lecture notes of IPC-Livestock/DTCFriesland.

• Various Articles about Dairy Housing published in the Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.

- Dairy Husbandry• machine- and handmilking, milking machines, milk hygiene• feeding, ration calculation, feedplans, quality of feedstuffs• fertility management, heat detection• breeding, use of A.I., culling, body conformation• housing, tying/cubicle systems, hygiene• health, mastitis control, hoofcare• calfrearing• farm economics• farm administration

- Forage production• pasture management• fodder crops• silage making• farm machinery

- Milk processing• manufacture of cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice-cream, etc.• milk collection and payment systems• marketing• management of a dairy unit

- Sheep husbandry- Dairy goat husbandry- Intensive beef production- Horse keeping and animal traction- Teaching methodology

Visits to farmers' organisations, A.I.-stations, Health and Extension service etc. areintegrated in the courses to provide a good picture of the dairy sector in the Netherlands.

AD HOC COURSES

Our major activity is the organisation of ad hoc courses on request. These trainingprogrammes are tailor-made and completely designed according to the requirements of

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Dairy Training Centre Friesland (DTC-Friesland) is part of IPC Livestock. It is establishedby various Dutch farmers’ organisations and controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture,Nature Management and Fisheries. The Centre conducts a variety of internationaltraining programmes and courses. We also provide consultancy and managementservices.

All courses have a strong practice-oriented character based on the training concept oflearning by doing. The practical training is very intensive; one instructor deals withgroups of six students and for subjects like milking even with three students only.DTC-Friesland offers training in the following subjects:

Dairy Training Centre Friesland

The housing system is an important factor in theeconomy of dairying

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the client. The courses deal with one or more of the earlier mentioned subjects. Durationof the courses varies from 1 week to several months. The courses are conducted inEnglish. For some special subjects training can be provided in French, Spanishor German. If facilities are available locally, our staff is prepared to conduct coursesabroad as well.

SIX-WEEKS COURSE: MODERN DAIRY FARM MANAGEMENT

This course is especially designed for persons in charge of a large-scale dairy enterprise,and includes all aspects involved in managing a dairy herd. The course offers a goodopportunity to refresh one’s knowledge and learn about recent developments in dairyfarm management.

SIX-WEEKS COURSE: MILK PROCESSING

The course is designed for (assistant) managers of small to medium-sized dairy plantsand future staff of new dairy enterprises; i.e. on-farm milk processing. Both six-weekscourses are conducted annually in September. However, for groups of at least six personsit can be organised at any time during the year.

TelephoneTelefax

: +31 582561562: +31 582561628

TRAINING FACILITIES AND STAFF

The centre has three farms, eachwith a different managementsystem. One farm is especiallyequipped for international courses.The total stock at the three farmsincludes 240 dairy cows, 50fattening-bulls, 45 dairy goats, 85sheep and 12 Friesian horses.Additionally, the centre maintainsclose relations with twenty neigh-bouring farms which are used forpractical training.Our staff consists of fifty dedicatedand well-qualified trainers.All have up-to-date knowledge ofmodern dairy farm management,and over 70 man-years experienceis present in various dairy develop-ment projects throughout theworld.

IPC-Livestock / DTC-FrieslandP.O. Box 859062 ZJ OenkerkThe Netherlands

ACCOMMODATION

A modern hostel provides full board and lodging in single or double bedrooms.An international kitchen and many recreational facilities are present.Social excursions are organised during the weekends to enable the students to getacquainted with the Dutch culture.

For more detailed information on our activities, please contact:

Knowledge of dairy housing contributes significantly tothe overall performance of dairy cows