Nigel B. Cook

Protect lying time by reducing how long cows wait to be milked

A comparison between the time cows wait to be milked in herds milked in parlors and herds milked with automated milking systems.

January 17, 2024

Nigel B. Cook and Courtney Halbach

Failure to permit cows to rest when they want to, for as long as they need to, has a negative impact on their ability to produce milk, become pregnant, stay healthy and remain in the herd.

Does your ventilation system work?

Observing cow behavior, mapping air speed, looking for any issues with fan placement or maintenance and fogging sections of the barn are some of the ways to check the effectiveness of the barn’s ventilation system.

June 15, 2023

Nigel B. Cook

With so many different approaches to ventilating adult cow barns – from natural to mechanical systems, from negative pressure tunnels and cross-vents to positive pressure hybrid systems – how do you actually know if it works?

La gestion des bains de pieds dans une installation de traite robotisée

January 31, 2023

Nigel B. Cook

Faire passer les vaches dans un bain de pieds – ou pédiluve – contenant un agent antibactérien, tel que le sulfate de cuivre ou le formol, est devenu une pratique courante de l'industrie pour aider à contrôler les maladies infectieuses des onglons.

Overstocking: Your pleasure is your cows’ pain

April 19, 2022

Nigel B. Cook

With the market turmoil of the last few years, dairy producers are once again increasing stocking densities on their farms and enjoying larger milk checks from the increased milk shipped. It’s so easy to add a few extra cows and reap the rewards.

A successful blueprint for transitioning dairy cows

September 7, 2021

Nigel B. Cook

Excellent feeds and feeding are paramount for a successful transition from the dry period to early lactation for our dairy cows. However, we’ve also learned that facility design and management are also critical components that should not be overlooked.

Pros and cons of different robot layouts

April 30, 2021

Courtney Halbach and Nigel B. Cook

There are a variety of different ways to orient a robotic milking stall within a pen, and it can be difficult to decide which orientation is best.

Transitioning cows in 2021 – Where do fresh cows go from here?

January 25, 2021

Nigel B. Cook

Over the last two decades, initially through improvements in feeding and nutrition and subsequently through facility design changes and enhanced management, we have seen positive progress in early lactation milk performance and health improvements in those farms that have chosen to embrace these changes. Much of the effort has been focused on the dry period – in particular, the pre-fresh or close-up period – and the maternity or calving area.

So you want to ventilate your barn …

July 19, 2020

Nigel B. Cook

Not too long ago, we relied heavily upon natural ventilation for adult dairy cattle facilities, but in recent years a variety of mechanical and hybrid options have emerged that have the potential to improve ventilation performance.

How do you assess an adult cattle barn ventilation system?

April 17, 2020

Nigel B. Cook, Jennifer Van Os, and Courtney Halbach

We house adult dairy cattle in a wide variety of barns of different shapes and sizes, and we have devised different ways to ventilate them.

How to manage footbaths in a robot milking facility

February 24, 2020

Nigel B. Cook

Walking cows through a footbath containing an antibacterial agent, such as copper sulfate or formalin, has become an industry standard practice to aid in the control of infectious hoof disease.

Articles by Nigel B. Cook

Protect lying time by reducing how long cows wait to be milked

Does your ventilation system work?

La gestion des bains de pieds dans une installation de traite robotisée

Overstocking: Your pleasure is your cows’ pain

A successful blueprint for transitioning dairy cows

Pros and cons of different robot layouts

Transitioning cows in 2021 – Where do fresh cows go from here?

So you want to ventilate your barn …

How do you assess an adult cattle barn ventilation system?

How to manage footbaths in a robot milking facility

West: The value of records

South Central: Heifer development from weaning to breeding

Southeast: BCS – one of the best tools you have

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