Jack and Jim Hanke know that a cow’s comfort zone is not the same as a person’s. Cattle are most comfortable when outside temperatures are between 40 and 70° Fahrenheit (F). Interestingly, cows can maintain body heat up to -30° F.
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| The Hanke Farms operation is located near Sheboygan Falls. |
Wisconsin dairy farmers, like the Hankes, go to great lengths to provide a comfortable environment for their cattle–from newborn calves to mature cows. It’s a “no brainer” for farmers to take care of their cattle because cow comfort has a direct impact on cattle health and milk production. In Wisconsin, most dairy cows live in a well-ventilated barn and/or graze on pasture, rest on a comfortable “bed,” receive regular check-ups from their veterinarian, and eat a balanced diet (specially formulated by a nutritionist) based on their age, size, milk production level and stage of pregnancy (if pregnant).
When the Hankes of Sheboygan Falls built their dairy’s freestall barns (where cows can roam), they placed the facilities on a hill and positioned them north/south to take advantage of prevailing easterly winds. Their farm is located 12 miles from Lake Michigan.
While people are just starting to reach their (temperature) comfort zone at 70° F, cattle have already stepped out of theirs. That’s why Hankes turn on fans in their barns when the temperature reaches +60° F. At 70° F, they close up the barn and use tunnel ventilation, which provides constant air movement and air exchange.
“With such a strong focus on cattle and employee comfort, the Hankes possess a genuine care and respect for others and are always looking for ways to help out someone before thinking of themselves.”
~ Dr. Chris Booth, Dairy Doctors Veternary Services, Plymouth
At 78° F, Hankes turn on misters, which run for four minutes and rest for 10 minutes. The misters provide additional relief during warmer weather by wetting the cows’ backs, and then the breeze from fans and wind create evaporative cooling–a very effective method for relieving heat stress.
“If it’s a hot summer day, the Hankes' freestall barn is one of the best places to be working,” stated the Hankes' veterinarian, Dr. Chris Booth.
Cows drink a lot of water, especially in the summer–from 25 to 50 gallons daily (a bathtub full). Hankes provide three large automatic waterers in every cow pen (of 120 cows). Plus, cows have access to two waterers while they are waiting to be milked. The waterers get cleaned twice weekly.
In the winter when the mercury drops below 40° F, the Hankes close the barn’s curtain sidewalls (similar to shades hung in home windows). This helps maintain temperatures inside. The family can also adjust the offset ridge on the top of the barn with a curtain. “This ridge helps us control the temperature in the barn during the winter,” Jack explained. The goal is to keep cows comfortable year-round.
Hankes use cow beds
Did you know that cows rest 12 to 14 hours daily? Consequently, cows need a clean, comfortable and dry place for resting. The stalls in Hankes’ barns have a mattress for the “bed.” These mattresses are covered with fresh sawdust and lime twice a week, and animal manure is removed three times a day. The mattresses provide a cushiony, dry surface for cows to rest on. And, just like the mattress on your bed, cow mattresses are replaced periodically. A considerable investment, cow mattresses are replaced on the Hanke Farm about every eight years.
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| These Hanke farm animals are comfortably resting on a thick bed of warm, dry straw. |
The Hankes also try to provide maximum comfort for their calves. The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine labeled their calf barn as “animal friendly.” Calves are bedded with warm, dry, long wheat straw. Individual calf hutches sit on pea gravel, which is covered with lots of straw. The pea gravel allows moisture to drain away from the calf and into a tile system, which transports waste to the dairy’s manure system.
After a young calf leaves her individual hutch, the pen is disassembled and taken to the wash bay where it is cleaned and sanitized before it is used for another calf.
In the calf barn, two sets of positive-pressure ventilation tubes bring in fresh air from the outside, enhancing airflow and helping prevent disease transmission.
Visit Hanke Farms to read more about this multi-generational farm operation.