Keeping cows clean

[Devon lad]

Just had an audit by a well known supplier and they have said that our spring Block calving cows are a bit dirty. Not really there belly’s or udders, just up high on the tops of there hind legs really. Doesn’t look as if it’s swishing from tails and we regularly trim them anyway. The Grass silage is proper good first cut, with hardly any stalk in it, and there on 3kgs of 18% parlour Cake, they are pretty loose. They are on chopped straw on concrete cubicles, which are Lightly limed with hydrated lime before straw chopper in morning and any dirty wet cubicles get a very light dusting in the afternoon. Not sure if the lime is almost acting like a mortar/glue and helping the muck stick to them? We were advised to clip them but there are several and I’d rather work on prevention. Not sure if the protein is a bit high in the diet but it’s not really easy to add fibre without dropping the milk. They do get penned in the collection yard after morning milking as we can’t feed up whilst milking and they like sh1tting on each other and bit of a rush onto the silage. Any help much appreciated TIA

 

[Beef farmer]

Lime will stick sh!t to anything!
Have they said you need to clean them up or just mentioned it?
Is it your milk buyer or red tractor?

 

[Devon lad]

Lime will stick sh!t to anything!
Have they said you need to clean them up or just mentioned it?
Is it your milk buyer or red tractor?

Need to clean them up, milk buyer

 

[Beef farmer]

Cow brush do the job?

 

[jimmer]

Sawdust an option?

 

[pappuller]

Just had an audit by a well known supplier and they have said that our spring Block calving cows are a bit dirty. Not really there belly’s or udders, just up high on the tops of there hind legs really. Doesn’t look as if it’s swishing from tails and we regularly trim them anyway. The Grass silage is proper good first cut, with hardly any stalk in it, and there on 3kgs of 18% parlour Cake, they are pretty loose. They are on chopped straw on concrete cubicles, which are Lightly limed with hydrated lime before straw chopper in morning and any dirty wet cubicles get a very light dusting in the afternoon. Not sure if the lime is almost acting like a mortar/glue and helping the muck stick to them? We were advised to clip them but there are several and I’d rather work on prevention. Not sure if the protein is a bit high in the diet but it’s not really easy to add fibre without dropping the milk. They do get penned in the collection yard after morning milking as we can’t feed up whilst milking and they like sh1tting on each other and bit of a rush onto the silage. Any help much appreciated TIA

What protein is your silage ? Are you overdoing the protein ? Are you on a hdf nut ? If their loose that probably isn't helping, we struggle if the silage is a bit fiery but have found a big improvement in cow cleanliness since adding maize

 

[jimmer]

Just realised your not mats, so sawdust will just move one problem to another

 

[Devon lad]

What protein is your silage ? Are you overdoing the protein ? Are you on a hdf nut ? If their loose that probably isn't helping, we struggle if the silage is a bit fiery but have found a big improvement in cow cleanliness since adding maize

I probably should check the protein of the silage, it’s not an hdf type nut as I don’t think our buying group has that as an option as most would feed tmr. Wasn’t sure Only being on 3kgs would Alter it much though. Maize would definitely sort it but not really an option with about.

 

[Rossymons]

Get some brushes up. Cheapest and easiest option.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

We feed a high grass silage diet and it's always pokey stuff, farm assurance pulled us on cow cleanliness last time so yoked them up and brushed them by hand ( we have cow brushes up which don't seem to really help with dried muck imo) sounds like lime is probably more your problem though

 

[Sid]

What proportion of the cows affected?

Whats your bactoscan? In the premium bracket?

 

[Davy]

A cow brush will sort them. Ours was out of action for a while at housing time and its remarkable how dusty etc they get. The brush shines them up lovely.

 

[nonemouse]

We’re having similar problems, cows are bit dirty, it was the only thing red tractor failed us. Diet just grass silage plus a hdf nut in the robot, fairly low ureas so not a lot of excess protein. Bactos in 20’s so not really a major udder hygiene issue

 

[Sid]

We’re having similar problems, cows are bit dirty, it was the only thing red tractor failed us. Diet just grass silage plus a hdf nut in the robot, fairly low ureas so not a lot of excess protein. Bactos in 20’s so not really a major udder hygiene issue

Thats the madness its about perception not results.

 

[nonemouse]

Thats the madness its about perception not results.

That’s the way farm assurance is going, milk buyer having major push on APPEARANCE of farm on their scheme

 

[Sid]

That’s the way farm assurance is going, milk buyer having major push on APPEARANCE of farm on their scheme

Main road farming, do what they do with factories and work behind closed doors!

 

[Chips]

+1 one for a brush , you don't notice when you put it in so much because they gradually get cleaner , however mine broke down and it was only a day or so before you see how grotty they look without it . Plus it's a joy to watch them enjoying it , best money you will spend especially if grant aided .
I need to find another one for lower down the leg now that still is a bit grotty , trouble is you can't mount them too low or the cows will access the motor , I do have a couple of static brushes lower down but they are a waste of time

 

[early riser]

What’s the sugars content of silage like? It’s sugar that makes for loose muck rather than protein I find. Having similar issues here with 8%+ sugar content in grass silage and there isn’t a huge amount you can do apart from clip them up religiously etc

 

[nonemouse]

What’s the sugars content of silage like? It’s sugar that makes for loose muck rather than protein I find. Having similar issues here with 8%+ sugar content in grass silage and there isn’t a huge amount you can do apart from clip them up religiously etc

Suspect that’s the problem here, just a shame on the timing of red tractor caused the issue

 

[Devon lad]

What’s the sugars content of silage like? It’s sugar that makes for loose muck rather than protein I find. Having similar issues here with 8%+ sugar content in grass silage and there isn’t a huge amount you can do apart from clip them up religiously etc

i would imagine our sugars are pretty high, been reseeding with abers for last 5 years+