PROMOTES A HIGHER QUALITY OF MILK
Cow Comfort defines a series of techniques that are applied in livestock farms and which together promote well-being and tranquility of the animals. These practices which represent a considerable investment for the farmer, medium-term affect very positively the quality of milk – high content in fat and protein – and also increased production of litres. Comfort is an indispensable condition for the health of the cows and so that they can produce quality milk. As it could not be otherwise, Arpon all animals have space to walk.
A HAPPY COW PRODUCES BETTER MILK
Rubber or water beds
80 per cent of milking cows have beds of water or crushed rubber, these last ones also have pillows to rest your head. The remaining 20 per cent have traditional bedding. All beds are cleaned daily and over them a biological disinfectant is applied. The surface of the bed should be padded so that the knees of cows will not suffer to the lie. Both crushed rubber water beds comply with this condition.
Classical music during milking
Milking time is a delicate moment for the cows. For this reason, in Arpon cows listen to classical during this process since it promotes relaxation and his willingness to be milked. It is said that this technique is applied from the monks of Brittany in the 19th century, discovered that the cows gave more milk if they were milked during mass, as they heard the music that came from the choir of the Church.
Currently there are no scientific studies that support this theory but in Arpon are convinced that cows having auditory system, are sensitive to the strains of classical music.
Anti-stress acclimatization systems
Air circulation is very important for the respiration of the cows. An example of this can be seen in that both the cows and the horses are located in the countryside in places higher – which is where most circulates the air – when the temperature exceeds 15 degrees. The lands consist of a single roof high, oriented to the South and waterfall to the North, whose design is intended to produce shade in summer and to facilitate the entry of sunshine in winter. In addition, lack of side walls in order to favour the maximum circulation of air within them. When the roof is heated by solar radiation, his own inclination leads a stream of air which in summer allows sheds enjoy of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius colder than the outside.
Cattle, from the first day of life, perfectly withstands temperatures up to 20 degrees below zero, but begins to suffer if the temperature rises above 22 degrees centigrade. In summer, the fall in temperature produced by the flow of air from the sheepfold is not enough. For this reason, ARPON has installed sprinklers and fans in the areas of the feeding and sheds with beds.
Fans and the sprinklers are put in place when the temperature exceeds 22 degrees and will stop when it drops 20.
First, the sprinklers are set to operate for 20 seconds; then the fans run for 40 seconds, handing out water in suspension. This cycle is repeated way successive cooling cows during the time that they are eating.
The same system is used in prior to milking waiting room. Additionally, each cow receives a shower out of the room after the milking. These care aims to prevent the temperature of the cows to raise. Once this happens, it is very difficult to lower it if not cooling during the early morning hours.
NUTRITION, GENETICS AND COMFORT
The three fundamental pillars for a milk of the highest quality are the feeding of cows, their genetics and "Cow Comfort" measures.
These three elements are the factors determinants to make livestock healthy, produce milk quality and quantity.
Careful power
Arpon is a veterinary nutrologo whose mission is to establish the type of food for each animal according to the period of life in which it is – calves, heifers, cows newly paridas, cows pregnant, etc-. How to feed livestock, is decisive to be healthy animals and their high production.
Arpon also advises other farms and cooperatives in Spain, since the feeding system which we apply in our farm has proved to be very effective.
Animal genetics
For more than 20 years Priégola not he joined their livestock animals from other farms since these would be capable of introducing diseases unknown to our cabin. Thanks to advances in genetics and artificial insemination, the rearing of livestock is done with native animals.
All the cows are born and bred on the farm. In addition, the parents of their future offspring are selected among the best stallions in the world, according to its genetic improvement tested, morphology, production, content of proteins, etc.
Thanks to all these measures Arpon obtained the title of best livestock index genetic of Spain (for more than 200 cows breeding farms) in the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. This title is awarded by CONAFE, the national associations of Frisona Española Conferedracion.
Cow Comfort
As we have explained above, they are a series of animal, comfort measures as a whole, affect a better milk – content of fat and protein – and also an increase of its production.