Cubicle Training

[Junior]

After any help/advice about the best way to train cows to cubicles.
We have just completed our new cubicle shed (Mayo mats and Hybrid flex cubicles bedded with chopped straw). Cows were previously loose housed although about 25% have come from cubicles originally.
The cows have been in them the last three nights and we only have around 15/20 regularly lying in them. Obviously we don't expect it to happen overnight but with cells up and yield dropping anything to speed up the process would be gratefully received.

 

[Headless chicken]

Flood the passages. Put loads of straw in the beds

 

[DairyNerd]

I think more will learn but I have put tyres in passageway before which works well.

 

[Slippery Slope]

If you have any, a little bit of hay or haylage in the front of each cubicle works well for getting them to realise it’s okay to stand up on the beds if they have never done so before. Once they’ve conquered that fear they’ll usually work out lying down fairly quickly.

 

[yin ewe]

If you have any, a little bit of hay or haylage in the front of each cubicle works well for getting them to realise it’s okay to stand up on the beds if they have never done so before. Once they’ve conquered that fear they’ll usually work out lying down fairly quickly.

Could feed nuts at the front of the cubicles too, we do that when training young heifers. Need to have a cubicle each though or it can end up a bit of a scramble. Never any issues getting them to lie up when they go into the milkers.

 

[glow worm]

Sand in cubicles. Lots of downsides with slurry systems but vastly outweighed by benefits. Have tried most things over the years but never had to resort to tying a heifer in again once we changed to sand. Took to them from day 1. Added benefit is that they kick a little bit of sand out into passage when they get up which helps with any slippery surface.

 

[frederick]

Sand in cubicles. Lots of downsides with slurry systems but vastly outweighed by benefits. Have tried most things over the years but never had to resort to tying a heifer in again once we changed to sand. Took to them from day 1. Added benefit is that they kick a little bit of sand out into passage when they get up which helps with any slippery surface.

At what age are they trained. Mine visit the cubicles for a fortnight 6 weeks before calving on sand.
Calved 42 in in last fortnight. Got two to tie in tomorrow.

 

[glow worm]

Outs go in when pd'd positive. Loose housed on straw up to then

 

[jerseycowsman]

You got them lying in them yet?