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Animals
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Housing Systems in Dairy Production
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Housing Systems in Dairy Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 23935

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Claudia Arcidiacono

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Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
Interests: agricultural buildings and related equipments and plants; conservation, rehabilitation and reuse of traditional rural buildings; buildings for agri-food industry; innovation in animal housing design and influence of housing environment on animal well-being and production using CFD
Prof. Dr. Matteo Barbari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Interests: livestock housing; housing systems with respect to sustainability goals and technical innovations; freewalk dairy barns; climate control in livestock buildings; emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Patrícia Ferreira Ponciano Ferraz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
Interests: precision zootechnics; handling; instrumentation; comfort and well-being of dairy cows in Free-Stall and Compost Barn system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The welfare of dairy cows has been found to be significantly influenced by the housing system, with direct consequences on productivity and product quality, as well as on the efficiency of the system in terms of resources and energy expenditure. The main features of future housing systems should include housing conditions and facility design innovations that play a major role in enhancing animal comfort and the expression of the natural behaviour of cows, besides achieving effective indoor climate control, reducing emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases, and providing environmental benefits coming from making those systems more resilient and sustainable through waste reuse and reduced impact on the landscape.

This Special Issue aims to provide awareness of the role of dairy housing systems in improving animal welfare, dairy productivity, sustainability, and efficiency. To this aim, original contributions from researchers that apply innovative methods and technologies, and address issues of scientific relevance in the design, improvement, and assessment of dairy housing systems are welcome, as well as review articles of innovative aspects of housing systems.

The main topics of the Special Issue are included in the following list, which does not aim at limiting the research horizon of the papers:

  • Housing solutions for animal heat stress reduction;
  • Materials and equipment for housing systems;
  • Optimisation of building geometry and components of housing solutions;
  • Housing solutions and climatic zones;
  • Building design for resources and energy saving;
  • Naturally-ventilated and mechanical-ventilated building design;
  • New building and ventilation design and modelling;
  • Automated solutions for dairy production systems;
  • Information and communication technologies (ICTs) applications in dairy housing systems;
  • New technologies in housing systems for dairy production;
  • Reduction of noxious gas emissions in dairy houses.

Prof. Dr. Claudia Arcidiacono
Prof. Dr. Matteo Barbari
Dr. Patrícia Ferreira Ponciano Ferraz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Housing solutions
  • Dairy production systems
  • Technologies in housing systems for dairy production
  • Climate zones
  • Automated solutions

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 974 KiB  
Article
Thermoregulation and Performance of Dairy Cows Subjected to Different Evaporative Cooling Regimens, with or without Pepper Extract Supplementation
by Sidinei Peretti, Viviane Dalla Rosa, Maria Luísa Appendino Nunes Zotti, Alan Miranda Prestes, Patrícia Ferreira Ponciano Ferraz, Aleksandro Schafer da Silva and Claiton André Zotti
Animals 2022, 12(22), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223180 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1260
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an interaction between pepper extract (PE) supplementation and evaporative cooling regimens on the performance, thermal comfort, and metabolism of lactating cows. The experiment was designed as a double 4 × 4 Latin [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an interaction between pepper extract (PE) supplementation and evaporative cooling regimens on the performance, thermal comfort, and metabolism of lactating cows. The experiment was designed as a double 4 × 4 Latin square using eight multiparous Holstein cows (days in milk 147 ± 43.8 days). Treatments were a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement; two evaporative cooling regimens [sprinkler cycles of 30 s on and 4.5 min off (R5) and 30 s on and 9.5 min off (R10)] were combined with no inclusion of pepper extract (CT) or 800 mg/cow daily of PE. The inclusion of PE allowed a greater reduction in the surface temperature of the coat, and the cows remained for longer periods in the feeding area. There was an interaction between the use of PE and the climate regimen for surface temperature, which was lower for PER5. Cows experiencing greater intermittency in the spraying cycles (R10) spent 35% more time at the feeding area. A significant interaction was observed for milk production, with greater production for CTR5 compared to the other treatments. The feed efficiency for R5 was higher than that for R10. The R5 treatment combined with PE reduced water intake. There was no significant difference in serum parameters other than gamma-glutamyl transferase, with an interaction between treatments and greater activity for PER10, and total protein and albumin, which had cooling effects that were higher for R10. The two factors tested interfered in different and dissociated ways. The evaporative cooling strategies were effective, and the R5 treatment resulted in higher feed efficiency and milk production. The inclusion of PE enhanced heat reduction in cows when they were subjected to a cooling regime. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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19 pages, 869 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Cattle Housing Systems Based on the Criterion of Damage to Barn Equipment and Construction Errors
by Marek Gaworski and Michał Boćkowski
Animals 2022, 12(19), 2530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192530 - 22 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2015
Abstract
Dairy cattle housing systems are the subject of numerous studies, in which a strong emphasis is placed on the comparison of animal welfare, animal behavior, production indicators and labor inputs. Dairy cattle housing systems are linked to specific livestock buildings, which is a [...] Read more.
Dairy cattle housing systems are the subject of numerous studies, in which a strong emphasis is placed on the comparison of animal welfare, animal behavior, production indicators and labor inputs. Dairy cattle housing systems are linked to specific livestock buildings, which is a prerequisite for undertaking studies comparing barns and their technical equipment. The aim of the study was to compare barns with two types of housing systems, i.e., tie-stall and freestall, including the identification of technical wear in various areas used by animals. This objective was linked to the assessment of animal health problems in livestock facilities. The research covered 38 dairy farms, 19 of which kept cows in the tie-stall system and 19 in the freestall system. The barns in these farms were examined for technical damage and construction errors, assessed in four areas: lying, feeding, milking and social. The research results confirmed significant differences in the degree of damage to technical equipment in individual areas of barns and between barns with tie-stall and freestall housing systems. The conclusions indicate the need to link the degradation of barns and their technical equipment, as well as design errors with the evaluation of dairy cattle welfare in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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14 pages, 2752 KiB  
Article
Thermal Environment and Behavior Analysis of Confined Cows in a Compost Barn
by Geovani Marques Laurindo, Gabriel Araújo e Silva Ferraz, Flavio Alves Damasceno, Joao Antônio Costa do Nascimento, Gabriel Henrique Ribeiro dos Santos and Patrícia Ferreira Ponciano Ferraz
Animals 2022, 12(17), 2214; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172214 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
The compost barn system has become popular in recent years for providing greater animal well-being and quality of life, favoring productivity and longevity. With the increase in the use of compost barn in dairy farms, studies related to the thermal environment and behavior [...] Read more.
The compost barn system has become popular in recent years for providing greater animal well-being and quality of life, favoring productivity and longevity. With the increase in the use of compost barn in dairy farms, studies related to the thermal environment and behavior are of paramount importance to assess the well-being of animals and improve management, if necessary. This work aimed to characterize the thermal environment inside a compost barn during the four seasons of a year and to evaluate the standing and lying behavior of the cows through images. The experiment was carried out during March (summer), June (autumn), August (winter), and November (spring). Dry bulb temperature (tdb, °C), dew point temperature (tdp, °C), and relative humidity (RH,%) data were collected every 10 minutes during all analyzed days, and the temperature and humidity index (THI) was subsequently calculated. In order to analyze the behavior of the cows, filming of the barn interior was carried out during the evaluated days. Subsequently, these films were analyzed visually, and in an automated way to evaluate the behavior of these animals. For the automated analysis, an algorithm was developed using artificial intelligence tools, YOLOv3, so that the evaluation process could be automated and fast. It was observed that during the experimental period, the highest mean values of THI were observed during the afternoon and the autumn. The animals’ preference to lie down on the bed for most of the day was verified. It was observed that the algorithm was able to detect cow behavior (lying down or standing). It can be concluded that the behavior of the cows was defined, and the artificial intelligence was successfully applied and can be recommended for such use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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18 pages, 6088 KiB  
Article
Influence of External Thermal Conditions on Temperature–Humidity Parameters of Indoor Air in a Czech Dairy Farm during the Summer
by Pavel Kic
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1895; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151895 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1825
Abstract
The aim of this article is to show the relationship between external thermal conditions and the quality of the indoor environment on a dairy farm during the summer. The measurements were carried out on a large dairy farm of Holstein cattle situated in [...] Read more.
The aim of this article is to show the relationship between external thermal conditions and the quality of the indoor environment on a dairy farm during the summer. The measurements were carried out on a large dairy farm of Holstein cattle situated in the Czech Republic. The research included the measurement of the cowshed for 440 lactating cows, a milking parlor, a maternity cowshed, a cowshed for dry cows, 69 individual calf hutches, and three outdoor group shelters for calves. The results of the registration measurements of the thermal state parameters outside and inside the buildings were analyzed. The critical and dangerous situations were especially regarding the calves. The highest temperature in the calf hutches was 48 °C with the value of THImax = 90.1, while in the calf group shelters it was 46.9 °C with the value of THImax = 89.4. The research results showed that not only the critical values of temperature and the temperature–humidity index that affect the housed animals are important but also the duration for which the animals are exposed to heat stress. The massive masonry constructions of the milking parlor and also of the cowshed for dry cows dampened the temperature rise in these barns, with good values for the attenuation coefficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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16 pages, 3506 KiB  
Article
Preferences of Dairy Cattle for Supplemental Light-Emitting Diode Lighting in the Resting Area
by Angela M. Wilson, Tom C. Wright, John P. Cant and Vern R. Osborne
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151894 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1541
Abstract
Light from the environment is important for vision and regulating various biological processes. Providing supplemental lighting in the stall area could allow for individually targeted or group-level control of light. This study aimed to determine whether dairy cattle had preferences for short-term exposure [...] Read more.
Light from the environment is important for vision and regulating various biological processes. Providing supplemental lighting in the stall area could allow for individually targeted or group-level control of light. This study aimed to determine whether dairy cattle had preferences for short-term exposure to white (full-spectrum) light-emitting diode (LED) light or no LED light, yellow-green or white LED light, and blue or white LED light in the stall area. In total, 14 lactating cows were housed in a free-stall pen with unrestricted access to 28 stalls. LED light was controlled separately for each side of the stall platform. Two combinations of light were tested per week, and each week consisted of three adaptation days and four treatment days. Lying behaviour and video data were recorded continuously using leg-mounted pedometers and cameras, respectively. Preference was assessed by the amount of time spent lying and the number of bouts under each light treatment. No differences occurred between treatments within each week for daily lying time and number of bouts. Similarly, no differences occurred between treatments within each time period. Further controlled studies of long-term exposure to different LED wavelengths and intensities are required to determine potential benefits on metabolic processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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21 pages, 21411 KiB  
Article
CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System
by Felipe Andrés Obando Vega, Ana Paola Montoya Ríos, Jairo Alexander Osorio Saraz, Rafaella Resende Andrade, Flávio Alves Damasceno and Matteo Barbari
Animals 2022, 12(14), 1776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141776 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Evaporative cooling is one of the most efficient techniques to reduce heat stress in cows in agricultural facilities. Additionally, compost-bedded pack barn has been shown to improve the welfare and production of cows. Two techniques were combined and analysed by developing a computational [...] Read more.
Evaporative cooling is one of the most efficient techniques to reduce heat stress in cows in agricultural facilities. Additionally, compost-bedded pack barn has been shown to improve the welfare and production of cows. Two techniques were combined and analysed by developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a tunnel-ventilated compost-bedded packed barn that integrated the heat and airflow dynamics of an evaporative pad cooling system. This allowed us to study the distribution of dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and airflow velocity inside the barn based on the external environmental conditions, thickness of the pad, water temperature and specific manufacturer characteristics of the pad, providing optimal cooling pad location, size and operating conditions in the barn. Employing experimental data the CFD model was validated showing good agreement. The Equivalent Temperature Index for dairy Cattle (ETIC) was used to determine the level of stress of the cows considering the airflow velocity. It was found a moderate stress due to high relative humidity and low airflow velocity. From the predicted results, it was recommended to increase the airflow velocity above 3 m s−1 when simultaneously the external dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity exceed 30 °C and 55%, respectively, simultaneously. Additionally, installation of baffles at the pad outlet to drive the airflow to the floor was suggested to improve the drying of the compost-bedded closed to the pads, where a low airflow velocity region was established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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17 pages, 1175 KiB  
Article
Dairy Cow Behavior Is Affected by Period, Time of Day and Housing
by Lisette M. C. Leliveld, Elisabetta Riva, Gabriele Mattachini, Alberto Finzi, Daniela Lovarelli and Giorgio Provolo
Animals 2022, 12(4), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040512 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2876
Abstract
Dairy cow behavior is affected by external and endogenous factors, including time of year, barn microclimate, time of day and housing. However, little is known about the combined effects of these factors. Data were collected on eight farms in Northern Italy during summer, [...] Read more.
Dairy cow behavior is affected by external and endogenous factors, including time of year, barn microclimate, time of day and housing. However, little is known about the combined effects of these factors. Data were collected on eight farms in Northern Italy during summer, winter and a temperate season. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was recorded using environmental sensors, whereas cow behavior was monitored using leg accelerometers and cameras. Period, time of day and their interaction all significantly affected lying, standing and feeding behavior. However, although THI had a significant negative effect on lying and a positive effect on standing during daytime (all p < 0.001), during nighttime, it only had a significant negative effect on lying duration and mean lying bout duration (p < 0.001 for both). There was also significant variation between farms in all behavioral parameters, as well as interactions with period and time of day. For instance, farm differences in lying duration were more pronounced during daytime than during nighttime. These findings show how housing can interact with other factors, such as period of the year and time of day, and illustrate the influence of barn structure and farm management on cow behavior and, consequently, their welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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12 pages, 1507 KiB  
Article
Validation of a Commercial Collar-Based Sensor for Monitoring Eating and Ruminating Behaviour of Dairy Cows
by Lorenzo Leso, Valentina Becciolini, Giuseppe Rossi, Stefano Camiciottoli and Matteo Barbari
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102852 - 29 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2325
Abstract
The use of sensor technologies to monitor cows’ behavior is becoming commonplace in the context of dairy production. This study aimed at validating a commercial collar-based sensor system, the AFICollar® (Afimilk, Kibbutz Afikim, Israel), designed to monitor dairy cattle feeding and ruminating [...] Read more.
The use of sensor technologies to monitor cows’ behavior is becoming commonplace in the context of dairy production. This study aimed at validating a commercial collar-based sensor system, the AFICollar® (Afimilk, Kibbutz Afikim, Israel), designed to monitor dairy cattle feeding and ruminating behavior. Additionally, the performances of two versions of the software for behavior classification, the current software AFIfarm® 5.4 and the updated version AFIfarm® 5.5, were compared. The study involved twenty Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with the collars. To evaluate the sensor performance under different feeding scenarios, the animals were divided into four groups and fed three different types of feed (total mixed ration, long hay, animals allowed to graze). Recordings of hourly rumination and feeding time produced by the sensor were compared with visual observation by scan sampling at 1 minute intervals using Spearman correlation, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), Bland–Altman plots and linear mixed models for assessing the precision and accuracy of the system. The analyses confirmed that the updated software version V5.5 produced better detection performance than the current V5.4. The updated software version produced high correlations between visual observations and data recorded by the sensor for both feeding (r = 0.85, CCC = 0.86) and rumination (r = 0.83, CCC = 0.86). However, the limits of agreement for both behaviors remained quite wide (feeding: −19.60 min/h, 17.46 min/h; rumination: −15.80 min/h, 15.00 min/h). Type of feed did not produce significant effects on the agreement between visual observations and sensor recordings. Overall, the results indicate that the system can provide farmers with adequately accurate data on feeding and rumination time, and can be used to support herd management decisions. Despite all this, the precision of the system remained relatively limited, and should be improved with further developments in the classification algorithm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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8 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
Annual Nitrogen Balance from Dairy Barns, Comparison between Cubicle and Compost-Bedded Pack Housing Systems in the Northeast of Spain
by Esperanza Fuertes, Ahmad Reza Seradj, Jordi Maynegre Santaularia, Daniel Villalba Mata, Gabriel de la Fuente Oliver and Joaquim Balcells Teres
Animals 2021, 11(7), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072136 - 19 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3223
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine N recovery and irreversible losses (i.e., through NH3-N volatilization) from manure in two different housing systems throughout a year using an N mass balance approach. Dietary, milk, and manure N were monitored together [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine N recovery and irreversible losses (i.e., through NH3-N volatilization) from manure in two different housing systems throughout a year using an N mass balance approach. Dietary, milk, and manure N were monitored together with outside temperatures in six dairy barns during six months, comprising two different seasons. Three barns were designed as conventional free stalls (cubicle, CUB) and the other three barns as compost-bedded packs (CB). All the barns were located in the Ebro’s valley, in the northeast of Spain. Mass N balance was performed simultaneously in the six barns, during two three-month periods (Season I and II) and sampling at a 15-day interval. Results of ANOVA analysis showed that annual N retained in manure (kg/head per year) from cows housed in CUB barns was significantly higher than in manure from cows housed in CB (133.5 vs. 70.9, p < 0.001), while the opposite was observed for N losses (26.9 vs. 84.8, for CUB and CB barn, respectively; p < 0.005). The annual mean proportion of irreversible N loss from manure in relation to N intake was much lower in barns using conventional free-stall cubicles than the mean ratio registered in bedded pack systems barns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
17 pages, 16257 KiB  
Article
Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate
by Provvidenza Rita D’Urso, Claudia Arcidiacono, Francesca Valenti and Giovanni Cascone
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1400; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051400 - 14 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2740
Abstract
Measurement of gas concentrations constitutes basic knowledge for the computation of emissions from livestock buildings. Although it is well known that hot climate conditions increase gas emissions, in the literature the relation between gas concentrations from open barns and animal-related parameters has not [...] Read more.
Measurement of gas concentrations constitutes basic knowledge for the computation of emissions from livestock buildings. Although it is well known that hot climate conditions increase gas emissions, in the literature the relation between gas concentrations from open barns and animal-related parameters has not been investigated yet. This study aimed at filling this gap by evaluating daily gas concentrations within an open-sided barn in hot Mediterranean climate. The influence of microclimatic parameters (MC) and cow behavior and barn management (CBBM) were evaluated for ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Results showed that both MC and CBBM affected concentrations of NH3 (p < 0.02), CH4 (p < 0.001), and CO2 (p < 0.001). Higher values of NH3 concentration were detected during the cleaning of the floor by a tractor with scraper, whereas the lowest NH3 concentrations were recorded during animal lying behavior. Measured values of CO2 and CH4 were highly correlated (C = 0.87–0.89) due to the same sources of production (i.e., digestion and respiration). The different management of the cooling systems during the two observation periods reduced significantly CH4 concentrations in the barn when the cooling system in the feeding area was switched off. Based on methodological choices due to the specific barn typology, parameters related to animals can provide information on the variation of gas concentrations in the barn environment in hot climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Housing Systems in Dairy Production)
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