A well-designed barn benefits both cows and farmers
When cows have enough space to eat, rest, and move without obstacles, they experience less competition and stress.
Free movement is key to a comfortable and productive barn. When cows have enough space to eat, rest, and move without obstacles, they experience less competition and stress. A well-designed barn benefits both cows and farmers. Sometimes, less is more! Discover how barn layout impact dairy farming.
In a series of five articles, hoof health expert André Janse, Farm Management Specialist at Lely, takes a closer look at this topic and shares valuable insights and practical tips.
Locomotion = Barn design + Hygiene & Climate + Preventive hoof care + Nutrition
How barn design impacts hoof health
Earlier, we talked about the cows' time spent in the barn and the importance of achieving an optimal feed intake by a cow. Simply put: how can she optimally take in feed, ruminate and move through the barn. In other words, free cow movement without obstacles in an environment tailored to the cow.
Which means cubicles that are tailored to the herd in terms of dimensions (length, width and bottom). Allowing a cow to lie down as she would if she were outside. And can take in feed without hindrance, sufficient supply and sufficient feeding places so that there is not too much competition. And if this is not optimal, that the farmer realises this and chooses compensation on this subject by means of, for example, a Juno feed pusher if there are too few eating places so that the low ranking cow can also achieve her required feed intake.
After all, there is and always will be mutual competition and ranking, within a herd this is natural behaviour. Which means that an animal feels more comfortable if she can swerve in this kind of situation. Wide corridors and enough space near the Astronaut milking robot, the feed fence and the drinking places make animals feel more comfortable here. The walkways over which the cows move and where they will encounter each other should not be too narrow. In practice, we often see farmers being reluctant to sacrifice one or more lying areas to widen a passageway to the feed fence, even though this improves the individual performance of all cows and results in less work for the farmer. A benefit for the farmer that returns every day!
A real-life example from a little longer ago. In the period when milk quotas existed in the Netherlands. This ended at the end of March each year, with the 'new quota' year starting again on 1 April. At the turn of the year, many dairy farmers made an estimate of the milk still to be delivered in the final months. At the time, this prompted one of our A2 customers to sell five of his 60 animals because he was afraid of delivering too much milk and risking a fine. Thus it happened. The remaining 55 animals then had more space in the barn which meant less competition at the feed fence and around the Astronaut. As a result, they all started to perform better, so that after 10 days, as much milk per day was entering the milk tank as with 60 animals!
Other Farming Insights
Why farmers choose the Lely Discovery Collector
When it comes to barn hygiene, every farmer can recognise themselves in at least one of the following challenges:
- Labour shortages and succession planning – Skilled labour is hard to find, and automation offers a sustainable solution.
- Maintenance headaches – Conventional systems require frequent rope changes and repairs, costing time and money.
- Deep bedding stress – Managing sand or other bedding materials adds complexity.
- Limited cleaning with traditional scrapers – Corners and tight spaces often remain dirty, impacting hygiene.
The Lely Discovery Collector is the proven answer to these problems. Designed for barns where traditional systems can struggle, it combines robust engineering, intelligent operation, and reliability to clean every corner, even the hard-to-reach areas, day and night. For farmers who want consistent hygiene, healthier cows, and less manual labour, the Discovery Collector is the smart choice.
The first solution for dense barn floors: the Lely Discovery Collector
Keeping your barn clean is essential for cow health, milk quality, and overall farm efficiency. But what if your barn has dense floors, sand bedding, or irregular layouts? Traditional scraping systems often struggle in these conditions. That’s why Lely developed the Discovery Collector, the first manure robot designed specifically for dense barn floors.
This innovative solution combines robust engineering, intelligent operation, and proven reliability to deliver consistent cleaning in even the most demanding environments. It’s not just a manure collector, it’s a smarter way to keep your barn hygienic and your cows comfortable and clean in all areas of the barn.
Why reliability and adaptability matter in automatic manure cleaning
If you’re considering automatic manure cleaning, two questions usually come first: “Will it work in my barn?” and “Will it keep working?” The Lely Discovery Scraper is built to answer both. With proven technology, robust design, and exceptional fit across different barn layouts, it’s a safe, smart step towards cleaner floors, healthier cows, and a more efficient routine.
