DAIRY HOUSING MANAGEMENT

VOLUME 1

2

FOREWORD

Design & Realization : D vision

Dairy Housing Management, Volume 1, isthe fourteenth in a series of managementmanuals published by Veepro Holland andthe first of two volumes on dairy housing. Amore detailed description about ventila-tion and manure handling will be de-scribed in Volume 2. These Veepro manu-als are intended to provide a usefulmanagement tool to all those associatedwith the dairy farming industry worldwide.Dairy cattle have to be well-housed tobenefit optimally from their geneticpotential.No single booklet can cover a subject asdiverse and complex as dairying.Nor will probably everyone associated withdairying agree on all points covered in onepublication. But we of Veepro Hollandbelieve the combination of this manualand other publications on the subject maybroaden your practical knowledge aboutappropriate dairy housing managementand will subsequently contribute to a

healthy and highly productive herd.Veepro Holland is indebted to those whocontributed to this manual, particularlying. Dolf Smits, housing specialist of theInstitute of Agricultural and EnvironmentalEngineering (IMAG-DLO) at Wageningen,and ing. Albert Pieters, farm buildingsand structures specialist of the AppliedResearch Station for Animal Husbandry(PR) at Lelystad, for their constructivecriticism.We would like to thank Rinke Oenema,Head of the Farm Mechanisation andFarm Buildings Division of the IPC Live-stock/Dairy Training Centre ‘Friesland’ atOenkerk, for his valuable assistance inthe preparation of this manual.Many thanks also to those associationsand publishers who permitted us to usevarious data and illustrations.

VEEPRO HOLLAND

Publisher / Editor : VEEPRO HOLLAND Information centre for Dutch cattle / P.O.Box 454 /6800 AL ARNHEM / HOLLAND. As from 3 November 1997 our new telephone number will be**31 26 3898740 and our new fax number will be **31 26 3898744.Copyright © VEEPRO HOLLAND. Publication from this manual is permitted only after approval of VEEPRO HOLLANDand on condition of statement of the source. Photos: Veeteelt

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INTRODUCTION

The best way to fully utilize the geneticpotential of dairy cows is to create anideal environment, with the emphasis oncow comfort to optimize animal healthand performance. Animal welfare is morethan just feeding, taking care of animalsand ensuring good health. It is essentialthat housing, feeding and general careare in balance with the needs of theanimals. Besides this, the correct set-upof dairy housing and its components is ofmajor importance with a view to the finalresults.

and above all ease of management.It is recommended to compare the costof remodeling with that of replacing anold building for new facilities.If remodeling is more than one-half totwo-thirds the cost of replacement,constructing a new barn may be thebetter choice. For example, convertinga stanchion barn to free stall housing isusually not practical due to insufficientventilation and the high cost ofconversion. At the most an existing barncan be used as a calf-maternity or as astorage barn.It is essential that good forward planning

in regard to design,engineering andfinancial aspects bedone. Dairy managersshould timely consultprofessionals whom theyconfide; dairy manage-ment consultants,extension services, bankmanagers, and so on, toensure that the establish-ment of new dairyhousing is feasible underthe given circum-stances. The mainemphasis in the housingmanuals will be focussedon free stall housingsystems for dairy cows.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

An absolutely essentialfirst step in designing suitable dairyhousing is having a management planbased on the current recommendationsfor good dairy management. Such aplan should include different groups ofdairy cows and young stock for feedingand handling. It is recommended todevelop a long-term plan based onopportunities and allowances for futureexpansion. Table 1 lists the variousmanagement categories for differentsizes of dairy herds (see page 4).

As dairy farming changes and herd sizesincrease, many dairy managers are facedwith decisions regarding herd expansion,modernization or the building of new dairyhousing facilities. All elements of planninga new dairy housing system should beconsidered, with the emphasis onlogistical lines, such as cattle movementto and from the milking parlour, locationof feed supplies and provision of feeds,treatment and maternity areas, manurehandling and storage, labour efficiency

A correct set-up of dairy housing contributespositively to the cow’s production performance

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CAREFUL PLANNING

New facilities should provide comfort andease of management in regard to dairycattle and young stock, with the empha-sis on logistical movement of animals,personnel, feeds and manure. Makingthe working conditions smoother andmore attractive helps in realizing greaterefficiency. Time is money, so always try toincrease labour efficiency. The dairyhousing system should fit the climaticaldifferences and be divided into housingsystems according to climatical zones.Never overlook the fact that a dairyoperation has to be managed for 365days throughout the year.There are a number of basic elements tobe considered when planning any dairyhousing system, regardless of location andenvironment. So let us first discuss thebasic elements in planning your dairyhousing facilities.The climatical conditions, particularlytemperature, humidity, rainfall, snow andwind are all affecting the design of dairyhousing or shelter and necessitate greatvariations among the various housingsystems. The emphasis should always beon having clean, dry and comfortablefree stalls to provide animals with protec-tion and comfort in most systems, exceptthose in extremely hot climates.The milking parlour and the adjoining

Table 1 Typical management categories of a dairy herd based on uniform calving throughout theyear, a 13-month calving interval, 50% female calves, all male calves sold at birth, 5percent of calves lost at birth, and replacement of 25 pregnant heifers per 100 cows.

Herd size

Mature cowsCows in milkDry cowsTotal mature cows

Calves and heifers 0 - 2 months 3 - 4 months 5 - 8 months 9 - 12 months13 - 15 months16 - 24 monthsTotal young stock

40

164

20

1 1 4 428

20

80

337

40

3 3 7 75

1540

150

621375

6 6

13 13

92875

200

8317

100

8 8

17 171238

100

500

20842

250

20 20 42 433095

250

office complex is the centre of activity inmost dairies. Pay sufficient attention tothe location of the milking parlour and itscow traffic to and from the parlour. Theparlour should be located in a wayallowing cows to move freely withoutinterference of gates and other obstacles.The holding area of the milking parlourshould be sized according to pen

Housing facilities should provide comfort andease of management in regard to dairy cattle

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capacity and the milking rate per hourof the parlour. Cows should be held formaximally 1½ hours in the holding area.Fast and smooth cow movement throughthe parlour is essential.The feed rack should provide sufficientfeed bunk space for each mature cow. Itis recommended to emphasize logisticallines (one-way traffic) when feedingvarious groups of cattle and have feedinglanes wide enough for ease of movementof feeder mixer wagons.The service and cow traffic lanes shouldallow for easy mechanical cleaning, socorners and obstacles should be avoided.The planning of manure management is animportant part of a complete dairy system.Manure handling, storage, transport, andland application must be compatible withhygienic milk production and pollutionregulations.Always provide plentiful fresh and good-quality drinking water for cows through-out the dairy facility. In open-air systemsprotect water troughs with a shadestructure and a concrete slab aroundthe troughs to avoid muddy conditions.Provide a water storage reservoir ofsufficient capacity for cleaning andother purposes.Separate treatment and maternity pensand situate them close to the milking

parlour for ease of management. Never usefree stalls or the milking parlour for treat-ment of cows. It discourages proper use ofthese facilities.It is recommended to separate dry cowsand pregnant or breeding heifers from themilking herd by providing separate housingand care to minimize herd health problemswhen these animals move into the milkingherd.

SELECTING THE SITE

When establishing a new dairy facility withfree stalls, choose the most favourable siteand pay attention to the topography of theland whenever and wherever possible.Above all, analyze the prospective site withrespect to soil conditions, drainage, mainswater and electricity supply, and goodaccessibility for trucks.Study your local weather records andpattern throughout the year, and makeoptimal use of sunlight in hot climates. Incase of open air corral systems make sureyou plan your shade structures at a 90degree angle to the path of the sun fordrying purposes underneath the shadestructure. The prevailing wind direction mustalso be taken into account to oppose themain door openings of barns and ventila-tion inlets against prevailing winds.

The feed rack should provide sufficient feed bunk space for each mature cow

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DAIRY HOUSING SYSTEMS

In temperate and colder climates en-closed free stall barns provide an idealprotection for cows and personnel on ayear around basis. Locating buildings withadequate interspace helps to providegood ventilation. Orient dairy housingopenings away from prevailing winds andlocate windbreaks on the wind side about20 meters away from the barn structure.In semi-arid climates rows of roofed freestalls provide necessary protection coverand comfort for cows. In hot climates,shade structures with evaporativecooling and without free stalls, providesufficient protection from extreme heatand rain.Always pay sufficient attention to theease of movement of cows, with theemphasis on logistics. Cows should beable to move to and from the milkingparlour without using the feed or free stalllanes of different groups of cows. Youshould be able to milk, feed, clean amanure lane or load a second batch ofcows into the milking parlour’s holdingarea without interference of anothergroup of cows. Cows need to be movedwithout interference from obstacles. Tominimize efforts when moving cows,design your housing and gate system in away allowing you to walk freely from oneend of the housing system to the other

end without opening any gates.The following housing systems will bediscussed:• enclosed free stall barn system for

temperate and cold climates;• roofed open free stall system for Medi-

terranean and arid climates;• open air corral system for tropical

climates.

Enclosed free stall barnsThese barns have a self-contained systemcombining all basic facilities in either aninsulated (warm) or uninsulated (cold)barn structure. The decision as to whethera cold or warm barn is to be built shouldbe based on complete appraisal ofenvironmental conditions and manage-ment goals to be met.Nowadays, many dairy farmers worldwidefind enclosed, well-ventilated cold dairybarns adequately suitable for moderateand cold climates. Cows can easilywithstand low temperatures, providingthe animals are kept dry and free ofdrafts. The humidity level within the barnshould constantly be maintained at areasonably low level, as otherwise it mayhave a depressing effect on milk produc-tion. When sufficient natural ventilation isprovided, humidity can be controlledwithout any forced ventilation. Prevailingwinds should be taken into account inrelation to the door openings. Having

The free stall housing system contributes significantly to labour saving

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doors on each long side of the barnallows for added ventilation duringperiods of warm weather. Figure 1 gives across-section of such a barn.

Roofed open free stall housingThe roofed free stall housing system is anideal system for both the Mediterraneanand arid climates. If properly designed,this system offers a very efficient methodfor handling small and large dairy herdsat a low investment per cow. It is easilyexpandable as the herd increases. Thedesign should vary according to climaticconditions, so the main emphasis shouldbe on offering protection from rain, snow,wind, sun and heat.With a view to cold winds, rain and snowproblems in winter, it is best to provide asmuch protection as possible in the formof windbreaks or roll-away curtains andclosed partitions between free stall rows.It is recommended to orient the struc-tures North and South to take advan-tage of the warming and drying effectsof the sun. Warm climate applicationshould provide an open shade structureabove the free stalls for maximum airmovement and effect of cooling.For ease of cleaning it is recommendedto concrete areas of high cow traffic,such as where feeding and wateringtakes place. Drainage ditches should beconsidered to control precipitation and

should run to acceptable settling tanksor manure lagoons. Individual lots orpens should house between 50 and 125cows, depending on the size of themilking parlour and the capacity of theholding area. Herds should be dividedinto milk production groups or accordingto the stage of lactation, and differentgroups for young stock.

Open-air corral housingThe design of open air corral systemsdepends largely on the climatic conditionin the dairy farming area. Prevailingproblems in heat stress and muddyconditions have compelled dairy farmersin certain areas, especially in hot andhumid climates, to provide more protec-tion in the form of shade and paving ofhigh cow-traffic areas. Shade to protectagainst solar radiation will improve cowcomfort and reduce stress. Figure 2 showsa typical barn cross-section for open-aircorral housing.Adequate evaporative convectioncooling is necessary to help lactatingcows to get rid of their body heat. Newdevelopments in evaporative fan coolinghave been very successful. The coolersare specially designed for dairy opera-tions in hot and humid climates. Thesystem is used in open barns and undercorral shade structures on a dirt surface. Itinjects a very fine controlled amount of

Feedingracks

2.2 to2.5m

2.4 to2.5m*

2.2 to2.5m

2.4 to2.5m*

2.2 to2.3m*

3 to3.5m

5 to5.5m

2.5

to 3

m

2.2 to2.3m*

3 to3.5m

Figure 1 Cross-section of an enclosed free stall barn system

Cow alley Cow alleyCow alley Cow alley

25 to 27m

Freestalls

Freestalls

* This dimension depends on expected cow size and selected stall design

Drive-throughfeed alley

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water into the air stream in relation totemperature and humidity. It produces avery fine mist to prevent accumulation ofwater on the surface. The fine mistparticles stay suspended in the air andevaporate before deposited on theground, thus consequently cooling thesurrounding air. The air movement coolsthe cows by convection and dairyfarmers in these regions are now achiev-ing top milk production and betterreproduction performance.

ADVANTAGES OF FREE STALLS

There are several characteristics of thefree stall housing system accounting for itswide acceptance in most areas world-wide. It is an ideal time-saving system andabove all contributes to cow comfort.Free stalls give substantial savings onbedding materials. Besides this, theindividual resting areas result in cleanercows and fewer udder problems. Thecows are free in their movement, whichenables dairymen to manage more cows.

Free stall design for cow comfortThe design of free stalls has a greatinfluence on the cows’ health andconsequently on their performance. Anoptimal resting place is essential for cows,because they are resting for many hours

daily. Free stalls should provide sufficientspace to allow cows to rise and lie downeasily. A cow, rising naturally from a lyingposition lunges forward about 60 to 70centimeters in transferring most of herweight forward to help raise her hindquarters. To achieve this naturalmovement, a cow must have enoughspace to thrust her head forward. If shecannot lunge forward far enough, it willbe more difficult for her to rise on her hindlegs. If restricted too much, she will rise onher front legs first, like a horse, riskingudder damage.With the above in mind, the free stallsmust be well-designed and engineered,and be of dimensions necessary tominimize the chances of leg injuries andteat damage. The special-designed andimproved free stall partitions have incommon that cows can easily rise as aresult of a higher degree of free move-ment. The cow should not be botheredtoo much by stall partitions or any othercomponents. An open front end of thefree stall allows for ease of movement, asit offers sufficient space.If the front side of the free stalls is closedby a sidewall, rising will be more compli-cated. In such a situation the cow isunable to move properly forward andtherefore additional space is needed forthe thrust of the cow’s head during rising.

Figure 2 Cross-section of an open-air corral system

7.3mrest area

3.7mcow stand

5 to 5.5mfeed truck lane

3.7mcow stand

7.3mrest area

7.3mrest area

spraynozzles

spraynozzles

2.6m

[]

lock-instanchions

openridge

slope 1.5 to 3%

3m

corral cooler(13 to 15 cows

per unit)

corral cooler(13 to 15 cows

per unit)

2.5m

cu

rta

in

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the size of mature cows. Wider free stallscause smaller cows to move too much oreven turn around, and consequently theirdung may pollute the bedding. Toonarrow free stalls will complicate thecow’s rising and lying down, with the riskof teat damage and leg injuries. Inaddition, narrow free stalls are uncomfort-able and will discourage their use. Thisproblem may even cause cows to liedown in the traffic lanes.

The floor (base) of the free stallIt is recommended to have a raised freestall floor of quality concrete. The con-crete base of the stall should be insulatedand be at a level of 15 to 20 centimetersabove the passage alley at the curb. Ifthis design is applied, the resting cows arenot disturbed by others and the stalls caneasily be kept clean. The floor of the freestall should slope upwards about 3% fromthe curb towards the front to facilitatedrainage, contributing to dryness of thefree stall and consequently to morehygienic conditions.

In this situation a brisket board mightprevent cows from moving too farforward into the stall when lying down.An alternative is having free stalls with awide side opening at the side of thecow’s head to enable the cow to moveits head sideways through this openingwhen rising. Thus the length of the freestalls can be reduced, which results insaving on construction expenses.The free stall partitions should allow cowsto move in lateral direction as well. This ispossible if the partitions are not an-chored at the back part, thus allowingfor additional space for resting. A neckrail or a nylon strap across the top of thepartitions reduces cows manuring in thestalls. It encourages cows to back upwhen rising and stops cows from movingtoo far forward when standing.There are two types of partitions whichmeet the demand for freedom in move-ment perfectly:• the suspended or cantilever partition;• the ‘R’ or floor-mounted partition.The dimensions recommended for freestalls with the suspended partition and ‘R’partition are given in table 2 (see page10). The optimum widths of the free stallsvary between 110 and 115 centimeters,measured on centre and depending on

The R or floor-mounted partition gives the cow ahigh degree of free movement

The design of free stalls has a great influence onthe cow’s health and productivity

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COMFORTABLE BEDDING

Good bedding materials are essential forcow comfort. They contribute to betterudder health and help to prevent leginjuries. Besides this, proper bedding hasan insulating effect, which contributes tocleaner udders and consequently to abetter milking job, and above all, im-proved milk quality. As one can imagine,the impact of 650 kgs of bodyweighthitting a solid concrete floor is heavywithout any doubt. Therefore, free stallsshould be provided with enough soft, dryand hygienic bedding material.The use of short and fine bedding materialreduces the amount of bedding draggedinto the passage (manure) alley and is ofimportance for the manure-handlingsystem in use. To keep the beddingmaterials inside the free stalls, a heavygalvanized about 10 centimeters wideslab, bending slowly upwards over the

passage alley, could be installed on topof the curb. This curb rail reduces spillageof bedding material, providing somemore length of the stall, and keeping thecow’s tail free from the passage alley. Analternative solution could be to install a1½” iron pipe on top of the curb. Adrawback of installing such a pipe wouldbe the accumulation of manure andliquids against the pipe and eventually ofbacteria!A soft and dry bedding place can beachieved by using:• chopped straw, wood shavings and

saw dust;• rubber mats;• bedding mattresses.

Chopped straw or other materialsIn case chopped straw, sawdust or otherfine materials are applied, it is recom-mended to use bedding in layers of about3 centimeters. It is important to obtain

Table 2 The recommended dimensions of free stalls in centimeters for dairy cattle of 550 to 700 kglive weight.

length240 - 250220 - 230440 - 460220 - 250300 - 350

width on centre110 - 115110 - 115110 - 115

free stall (sidewall of building)free stall (inner row)free stalls (double row)passage alley between rows of free stallscow alley behind the feeding rack

The suspended partition has a wide opening at the cow’s head to enable her to rise easily

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good-quality dry bedding materials thatare not mouldy and are dust-free. Thebedding should absorb as much moistureas possible. Wood shavings should bewithout splinters. Bedding materials shouldbe stored in a moisture-free area toprevent mould. Twice daily checking ofbedding materials and removal of dungcontributes to the cleanness of stalls andcows. This system requires topping-up of0.5 to 1 kg per cow daily.

Rubber matsThe rubber mats are a good insulationmedium between the concrete floorbase and the cow. Free stalls equippedwith rubber mats equally require bed-ding material for good resting. These stallsrequire about 0.25 kg of beddingmaterial per cow daily. The rubber matsshould be of the following specifications:• when rising or lying down the cows

should have sufficient grip (slip-proof)on the mat;

• a profiled top side for better holding ofthe bedding material;

• easy to clean;• a high lifetime of at least 10 years.For hygienic reasons rubber mats laiddirect from a roll in free stalls with sus-pended partitions are preferred to singlestall mats. Single mats might go hand inhand with accumulation of bedding and

manure between rubber mats in stallsand eventually underneath the mats.On top of this, rubber mats from a roll areeasier to install.

Bedding mattressesThis is a relatively new method for betterresting and has already been success-fully tried out by many dairymen world-wide. These bedding mattresses providean insulated bedding surface which isnatural, resilient and very comfortable forcows in the process of lying down. Themats are shock-absorbent, thus eliminat-ing the risk of injury. The thickness of themattresses is about 8 to 10 centimeters;the mattresses must be on a solid con-crete floor base to provide a satisfactorycushion.Good mattresses consist of uniformly sizedand shredded rubber, which maintains itsnatural resilience. These granulates aresandwiched into a tubular, tough, ma-chine-stitched durable fabric. The matsare protected by a tough top mat andare designed in such a way as to resisttearing, stretching, deformation or loss ofshape. The to cover mat should be of aspecial-designed fabric to avoid physicaldamage to the mattress and to preventabrasion of the cow’s skin. Small amountsof dry bedding on top of the mattresshelps to keep the surface dry and contrib-utes to cleaner cows.

Bedding mattresses are a new method forimproved resting and comfort of dairy cows

Good bedding materials are essential for cowcomfort

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SUMMARY

The set-up of a dairy farm is of majorrelevance to the final results of your dairyoperation. A well-designed logisticalsystem should be at the basis for excellenthousing. The free stalls should be providedwith properly designed partitions andcomfortable bedding for improved cowcomfort and udder health.

The general guidelines for designingproper dairy farm housing are:

1. drawing up a management planbased on current recommendations;

2. viewing other modern dairy farmingsystems before making a final decision;

3. consulting professionals at an earlyproject stage to design and engineerthe facilities;

4. planning housing facilities, with theemphasis on logistical patterns, animalwelfare and cow comfort;

5. selecting a prospective site on basis ofsoil conditions, drainage, main waterand electricity supply, and good roadaccessibility;

6. providing a safe and stress-free hous-ing environment for dairy cattle of allages;

7. having free stalls of the correct dimen-sions for comfortable resting places;

8. installing well-designed and engi-neered free stall partitions;

9. emphasizing utmost hygiene withinfree stalls by using sufficient beddingmaterials;

10. utilizing proper bedding for improvedresting and cow comfort.

·

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FURTHER REFERENCES

• Proper Milking Management• Udder Health Management• Forage Management• Fresh Cow Management• Dairy Herd Administration Management• Successful Artificial Insemination

Management

Earlier publications:

• Reproduction Management• Young Stock Management• Foot Care Management• Feeding Management, Volume 1• Feeding Management, Volume 2• Milking Machine Management, Volume 1• Milking Machine Management, Volume 2

• The Housing of Dairy Cows and Young Stock, Lecture notes IPC Livestock/Dairy TrainingCentre Friesland.

• Various articles about Dairy Housing published in the Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.

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Dairy Training Centre Friesland (DTC-Friesland) is part of IPC Livestock. It is establishedby various Dutch farmers’ organisations and controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture,Nature Management and Fisheries. The Centre conducts a variety of internationaltraining programmes and courses. We also provide consultancy and managementservices.

All courses have a strong practice-oriented character based on the training concept oflearning by doing. The practical training is very intensive; one instructor deals withgroups of six students and for subjects like milking even with three students only.DTC-Friesland offers training in the following subjects:

Dairy Training Centre Friesland

Housing of dairy cattle is part of the DairyHusbandry training course

- Dairy Husbandry• machine- and handmilking, milking machines, milk hygiene• feeding, ration calculation, feedplans, quality of feedstuffs• fertility management, heat detection• breeding, use of A.I., culling, body conformation• housing, tying/cubicle systems, hygiene• health, mastitis control, hoofcare• calfrearing• farm economics• farm administration

- Forage production• pasture management• fodder crops• silage making• farm machinery

- Milk processing• manufacture of cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice-cream, etc.• milk collection and payment systems• marketing• management of a dairy unit

- Sheep husbandry- Dairy goat husbandry- Intensive beef production- Horse keeping and animal traction- Teaching methodology

Visits to farmers' organisations, A.I.-stations, Health and Extension service etc. areintegrated in the courses to provide a good picture of the dairy sector in the Netherlands.

AD HOC COURSES

Our major activity is the organisation of ad hoc courses on request. These trainingprogrammes are tailor-made and completely designed according to the requirements of

15

the client. The courses deal with one or more of the earlier mentioned subjects. Durationof the courses varies from 1 week to several months. The courses are conducted inEnglish. For some special subjects training can be provided in French, Spanishor German. If facilities are available locally, our staff is prepared to conduct coursesabroad as well.

SIX-WEEKS COURSE: MODERN DAIRY FARM MANAGEMENT

This course is especially designed for persons in charge of a large-scale dairy enterprise,and includes all aspects involved in managing a dairy herd. The course offers a goodopportunity to refresh one’s knowledge and learn about recent developments in dairyfarm management.

SIX-WEEKS COURSE: MILK PROCESSING

The course is designed for (assistant) managers of small to medium-sized dairy plantsand future staff of new dairy enterprises; i.e. on-farm milk processing. Both six-weekscourses are conducted annually in September. However, for groups of at least six personsit can be organised at any time during the year.

TelephoneTelefax

: +31 582561562: +31 582561628

TRAINING FACILITIES AND STAFF

The centre has three farms, eachwith a different managementsystem. One farm is especiallyequipped for international courses.The total stock at the three farmsincludes 240 dairy cows, 50fattening-bulls, 45 dairy goats, 85sheep and 12 Friesian horses.Additionally, the centre maintainsclose relations with twenty neigh-bouring farms which are used forpractical training.Our staff consists of fifty dedicatedand well-qualified trainers.All have up-to-date knowledge ofmodern dairy farm management,and over 70 man-years experienceis present in various dairy develop-ment projects throughout theworld.

IPC-Livestock / DTC-FrieslandP.O. Box 859062 ZJ OenkerkThe Netherlands

ACCOMMODATION

A modern hostel provides full board and lodging in single or double bedrooms.An international kitchen and many recreational facilities are present.Social excursions are organised during the weekends to enable the students to getacquainted with the Dutch culture.

For more detailed information on our activities, please contact:

Optimal housing of dairy cattle is one of themain conditions to obtain sound farm results