Facilities and Technology

Dairy cattle producers can find resources and advice on cattle housing systems and dairy equipment. Information on calf and heifer facilities, building freestalls and tie stalls, and cow comfort is also available in this section. Penn State Extension provides practical advice on ventilation systems for dairy housing, and on milking systems’ usage and maintenance.

Dairy Farm Equipment

Choosing between the various dairy cattle housing facilities, handling, and milking equipment options is an important decision for dairy producers. Lactating cows’ welfare has a considerable influence on their productivity, health, and reproduction.

Dairy producers should take into account operational needs, local climate conditions, construction and building costs, and long-term maintenance and upkeep costs. At the same time, they should ensure that dairy cows are comfortable and managed in a safe environment in order to improve herd health and prevent diseases.

Implementing new technology, such as activity monitoring systems, as well as best practices in designing and maintaining proper facilities and equipment, are key to dairy farm profitability.

Dairy Cows Housing Facilities

Dairy cattle, specifically the milking herd and close-up dry cows, can be housed in various types of dairy facilities. The most common options are tie stalls for individual dairy cows, freestalls (cubicles), dry lots, pasture systems, and conventional or compost bedded-pack barns. Automated milking systems are also an option – a free-flow system allows cows to move freely between the robotic milker, feed area, and resting area.

Penn State Extension offers a free webinar on planning dairy calf and heifer facilities, covering sizing strategies, planning procedures, and common calf and heifer housing alternatives.

In this section, producers can also find resources on designing and building dairy cattle freestall housing systems, as well as calf and heifer housing. Additionally, we’ve provided specific recommendations for calf and heifer housing dimensions for Holstein and for Jersey dairy cattle. Information about transitioning from a conventional herringbone milking parlor to a single robot milking system is also available.

Producers looking for suggestions on calves housing and feeding can also access our resources. They’ll find practical advice on topics ranging from group calf housing facilities and challenges to cold-weather calf housing and care.

Ventilation Systems for Dairy Housing

As ventilation systems on dairy housing consume up to 25% of the total energy used on the dairy, efficiency is important when choosing the right system for your farming operations.

In this section, producers can find Penn State Extension comprehensive resources on ventilation systems, efficiency, and maintenance. They can access experts’ advice on natural ventilation for dairy tie stall barns, freestall barns, and for greenhouse livestock barns.

Dairy producers can also get practical tips on how to detect ammonia gas concentration in animal housing using simple instruments. Safety-related topics are also covered in the Dairy Cattle and Personal Safety section.

Cow Milking Equipment

Choosing the right milking system is yet another important decision for dairy producers aiming to optimize and streamline milking operations. Depending on the number of cows milked per day, different choices of systems and machines can be installed to provide optimal efficiency.

Milk parlors are designed for both cow and farmworker comfort and efficiency. Parallel parlors generally accommodate medium to large size herds, while tandem or herringbone parlors are a better fit for smaller operations.

On this page, you can find free webinars offering advice on milking systems operations, as well as practical information on cleaning and maintaining milking equipment. Various resources on robotic milking systems are also published here. Topics range from milk quality and automated milkers to feeding and data collection in robotic milking systems.

The efficient and productive milking process is not the only factor to consider when choosing milking systems, though. Dairy cow health and productivity are also affected by milking technology and processes. Penn State Extension offers an online course on Best Milking Practices – a useful resource for dairy producers and handlers interested in best management and milking practices.