Economics of Housing Dairy Cattle. A Review

Abstract

Type of dairy housing varies greatly between production regions as well as within regions of the United States. Size of operation, climate, relative costs for labor and other inputs, and managerial skills and preferences of dairy farmers influence the choice of the type of housing and degree of mechanization attained. Investments in dairy housing including the milking system will range from $350 per cow. Although annual cost for dairy housing and equipment contribute only 5 to 13% of total costs of producing milk, it has a much greater impact on cost of producing milk than the low percentages indicate. Type of housing and degree of mechanization affect efficiency and cost of labor and feed, man and cow comfort, cow health, cleanliness and sanitation, and possibly milk output. Increasing costs and the need for larger volumes of business have encouraged the development of highly mechanized silage and grain feeding, herringbone milking parlor, free stall housing and liquid manure systems. © 1970, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.