Waterbed design aims to keep cows comfy and cool

by

Better cow comfort can deliver a host of benefits for both the animal and the milk tank.

Improving overall cow health, increasing cow longevity, and putting more milk in the tank are all byproducts of cow comfort. Dairy equipment suppliers are also focusing on the growing impact of heat stress, and French manufacturer Bioret Agri believes its Aquastar cow mattresses can play a key role in keeping cows both comfy and cool.

Bioret Agri exhibited for the first time earlier this month at the Canadian Dairy XPO in Stratford, Ontario. Dale Gordon, the company’s North American sales and marketing director, says Bioret Agri’s strategy is to not only to address cow comfort, but also help farmers improve their animals’ well-being, specifically by managing heat stress.

In this video, Gordon explains that Bioret Agri first brought cow waterbeds to market 16 years ago, but newer versions have been redesigned to help producers manage the growing challenge of heat stress, which can have a significant impact on production.

The Aquastar mattress features a combination of foam padding and water pouch that provides excellent comfort, “but also gives us the ability to allow the cow to float on the water pouch itself and dissipate heat so that we better manage heat in those hot summer months,” says Gordon.

Canadian dairy farmers can expect to see more of the company in the future as it looks to build Canadian distribution and add dealers across the country.

Click here for more Canadian Dairy XPO coverage.

Comments

Please Log in

Log in

or Register

Register

to read or comment!