The company Vetvice, an independant group of veterinarians that give advice to dairy farmers on how to design barns according to cow comfort, cattle behaviour and working pleasure, invited Eyes on Animals to visit two dairy farms in Brabant, NL. Outdoor access is of course enjoyable for cattle, but the most important requirement is that a lot of thought is put into making the barn comfortable for the animals. A place where cows have the space to move and avoid confrontation with dominant individuals, where there is deep soft bedding and long enough cubicles, fresh air and light, a separate area for animals that need special attention, easy access to feed and water etc…
After all, even “free-range” cattle spend most of the time in the barn during cold winter months, hot summer days, and wet weather. It was a pleasure to meet the farmers of these two farms who were open to have us visit and that had put the advice from Vetvice into practice. They were farmers that design the facilities around the animals’ well-being. We discussed the positive points but also our on-going concerns about the quality of housing for many calves in the dairy industry. It is our hope that in the future more and more barns will incorporate the possibility to keep calves with their mothers, at least part-time until a natural weaning age. In the meantime that other efforts, such as group housing, straw bedding, environmental enrichment, space to run and play, be incorporated into calf housing. What is key, is that there always be an open dialogue and a positive attitude that anything is possible if there is support.
We would like to thank Vetvice and the farmers for their time and giving us this experience.
