2003 Annual Report for FNE03-473
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2003: $5,562.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2005
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $8,195.00
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Project Leader:
Brian Kronick
Bi-Co. View Farm
Heated Beds for Dairy Milk Cows
Summary
The farmer will test whether the drying effect of moderate warmth, especially during the winter, will help control mastitis and add to cow comfort, thus increasing production. Thirty stalls will offer hot water heat under the stall beds, and culture data, bacterial counts, individual somatic cell counts, bulk tank somatic cell counts, and weather data will be collected and analyzed. Outreach will be through an extension case study that reports results and describes the stall construction techniques, and other farmers will be invited to view the operation and the new stalls firsthand.