The Cow Lounge® was designed especially for dairy cattle at the start of the 21st century. It was the result of a study aimed at finding an alternative housing concept to the traditional cow cubicle barn. Preconditions of the study included an improved production environment, increased animal wellbeing and competitive costs. The Cow Lounge® combines all of the abovementioned factors into a single unique barn concept..
ID Agro bases the eventual building plan of your barn on a meticulously designed barn arrangement. Because you don’t want to build a new barn for your dairy cattle every 5 years, we combine your requirements with our expertise.
As its base, the Cow Lounge® for cattle has a hot-dipped galvanised steel structure with a roof consisting of a combination of high-quality, translucent, synthetic sheeting. This translucent roof covering has an extremely positive influence on the reproduction and wellbeing of your cattle. Research and practical experience has shown that light positively influences a cow’s hormonal balance. Milk production increases by 1,8 to 2,2 litres per cow per day if the animals are exposed to 16 to 18 hours of bright light per day, the same amount as they would experience outdoors (Source: Controlling Barn light makes more milk, University of Maryland, USA 1998). Feed consumption increases if the feed passage is well lit, while cubicles stay drier, preventing the growth of bacteria.
On the one hand, the amount of daylight inside the barn is similar to the outdoors while, on the other hand, unwanted solar radiance – which causes heat – is filtered out. In addition to an excellent environment for your cattle, the Cow Lounge® also provides improved working conditions for the farmer and his employees.
In most Cow Lounges®, air circulation is based on cross ventilation. An unrivalled ventilation system in the walls generally ensures the presence of sufficient fresh air inside the structure. For wider Cow Lounges® we supply ridge ventilation solutions to support the cross ventilation. These solutions include the permanently open ridge (MDV certified), the Move variant and the Cabrio roof.
ID Agro will customise your barn and virtually any span can be constructed. Column-free spans of up to 20 metres are no exception.
In view of current developments like the scrapping of milk quotas, the Dutch dairy cattle industry will be faced with severe fluctuations in milk production. With the Cow Lounge®, ID Agro offers you the opportunity to significantly reduce your housing costs. We will provide you with obligation-free information with regard to the opportunities available to your business.
Calves
As a dairy farmer, you know better than anyone else how important the rearing of calves is. After all, today’s calves are tomorrow’s profits. In addition to a planned diet, the housing of your calves will determine whether or not you are successful. Sufficient light and fresh air in the barn contribute to the optimum development of calves.
In the interest of economic viability, it is of great importance that your juveniles gestate on time. The Cow Lounge'® large degree of translucence can result in an increase in feed consumption as well as improved heat detection. These factors can directly contribute to faster and better fertility results.
However, the construction of a juvenile barn requires a large investment and many farmers are put off by this option. This is especially the case if the current barn is just too small to house all the cattle. Farmers will rather rear their calves elsewhere than build a new barn. But due to the risk of disease, this option is not advisable.
The Cow Lounge® for calves makes it possible to achieve significant savings on construction costs. Using this solution, you can continue rearing your calves and keep you business private.
Slaughter cattle
In combination with a deep litter floor or sloping floor, the Cow Lounge® offers excellent housing for sucklers and/or slaughter bulls.
ID Agro also provides an alternative to traditional barns for the housing of slaughter calves. It’s not just the cost advantages that will make the Cow Lounge® an attractive business opportunity. Because the Cow Lounge® is based on modular construction, you can easily extend the length or breadth of your barn at any time.
