Waterbeds have increased milk production by 4 kilos per cow per day

It almost looks like an advertisement for which an actor has been asked to advertise, but that is not the case. This is a satisfied dairy farmer in the southern part of Denmark who can only speak for himself and now the third party has ordered water beds for his cows - simply because they work. This dairy farmer is Gert Trøst Hansen, who took over the operation of Bøgeskovgaard near Brørup in January 2018.

More than 200 mainly red-and-white cows, which are gradually being replaced by black-and-white animals, fill the large barn, which will eventually also house the dry cows and part of the heifers. Eighteen months after the start, a second company has already been purchased. A company where 135 cows are milked now, but where all young cattle and dry cows will be housed in the long term, while Bøgeskovgaard will house all dairy cows.

Box cover

The first time in Bøgeskovgaard he experienced as very frustrating, because the mattresses were so worn out that the cows were as good as bare concrete. Gert Trøst Hansen experimented with cubicles with moss and it worked well, but the cell count rose to great heights. Sand was not an option because the slurry is supplied to a biogas installation. New mattresses were also out of the question, because Gert Trøst Hansen could not find a product that could meet his sustainability requirements. Frustrated about where his cows should lie, Gert Trøst Hansen contacted a few American friends he met during a study trip to Canada in 2009."I asked them what I could do best. One of the farmers had installed water beds 20 years ago, and they were still in use." Gert Trøst Hansen searched and found the waterbeds immediately on Google and on YouTube.

Water beds for fresh and dry cows

Last year in May, Gert Trøst Hansen was the first in Denmark to install the American DCC Waterbeds for fresh and dry cows. A total of 54 berths to gain experience with the use of the water beds. "I had seen a video on YouTube showing them not to leak, even if you put them in with a fork. I have collected three men and together we have put them on with forks, but there nothing happened ", the young farmer smiles. The first test was successful and at the same time the fresh and dry cows showed that they liked lying on the waterbeds.

Bøkkesovgaard noticed that the cows on the waterbeds lay better in the box."The cows do not put their legs in the neighboring box, do not lie obliquely in the box and do not stand against the cubicle partition," says Gert Trøst Hansen. Surprisingly, heat stress in the cubicle last summer was also not a problem, but the heat at the feed fence. "It was clear to see that when the animals were on the waterbeds, they could get rid of the heat ," he says.

A queue for the water beds

Due to the positive experiences with the dry and fresh cows, it was decided in May this year to install water beds for the rest of the dairy cows. This was done while the cows were walking in the stable. "The mats were torn when the water beds were installed. We had to fill the beds quickly with water, the animals were so driven to put them into use. A few cows were always waiting." , Gert Trøst Hansen laughs. It was clear that the water beds were immediately favorite.

Production has increased by 4 kilos per day per cow

Production has shown a substantial increase, an increase that is somewhat unreal for the young dairy farmer. He shakes his head with a smile, telling the story that the cows came from a production of 9,800 kilograms ECM and now reach 11,000 kilograms ECM. "I have not changed anything except that they are now on waterbeds. The costs per cows are still the same, 42 Crowns per cow, per day."says Gert Trøst Hansen. An average production of now 33.6 kilos per cow per day, 4 kilos more through the waterbeds, sounds like music to Gert Trøst Hansen. And even daily milk intervals of 11 and 13 hours. It is mainly the older cows that take full advantage of the water beds, and according to the calculation of Gert Trøst Hansen a production of 12,800 kg ECM can be achieved in the near future.

Better heels and legs

Pressure points and bare or damaged heels are a thing of the past since the arrival of the water beds at Bøgeskovgaard. "She there," says Gert Trøst Hansen, pointing to one of the cows, "has always had a big heel, but that is now over. And with that cow too." The older generation of cows has clearly improved. Cows without painful legs and heels can be seen in the parlor! "And she now gives 70 kilos of milk a day." , says Gert Trøst Hansen, "We can also experience the change when cutting back the herd, much less damage, much more enjoyable." says Gert Trøst Hansen.

More natural behavior

In Bøgeskovgaard, Gert Trøst Hansen has experienced a significant change in the behavior of the flock since all animals can lie on water beds in May. "When I do my rounds in the evening, they are all as before, but during the day there is a much more natural behavior in the stable. Previously they did everything at the same time and were probably more out of necessity than of wish," explains Gert Trøst Hansen ,  "It's much quieter in the stable."

Improved pregnancy

Despite the short period of time with waterbeds in the dairy cows, improved leg work and changing mating behavior have positively influenced fertility in the herd. Gert Trøst Hansen believes that the cows show more clearly which animals are in heat and that the cows have a good rhythm faster after calving. This has resulted in a higher pregnancy rate after first insemination. "This is clearly because the cows are now better balanced. The legwork is better and because of the changing coupling behavior they move more," explains Gert.

Investment paid after 6 months

A DCC waterbed costs DKK 1,600 plus installation by the company Grotrian A / S, a Danish importer of the American waterbeds. "An increase of 4 kg per cow generates an additional income of 3,500 DKK per cow per year, so the investment is repaid after six months," according to Gert Trøst Hansent. Moreover, there are the other positive economic benefits, such as better heels and legs, better reproduction, and so on. The young dairy farmer has estimated a life span of 15 years for the waterbeds in his budget, knowing that the waterbeds that were laid in the United States in the 1990s are still in use. "If they last for 15 years, a waterbed including assembly costs me 66 øre per day per cow," says Gert Trøst Hansen.

Again ordered more water beds

It is not long before Bøgeskovgaard is refurbished, with the fresh animals and dry cows moving to the other farm, while the 135 dairy cows that still run there are coming to Bøgeskovgaard. That is why calf boxes and regular boxes now have to be made, in which of course waterbeds will be installed. "I can't say anything negative about the waterbeds. One of my employees finds it harder to scratch the waterbeds because they move, but I didn't notice that," says Gert Trøst Hansen. The water beds are sprinkled with ground straw and dried lime once a week, compared to the old mattresses twice a week. Gert Trøst Hansen experiences cleaner stables than before, because urine and milk residues run off the water bed.

By Tenna Bang (Published in Effektiv Landbrug )

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