Jeffrey Bewley: Freestall Barn Base Options

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley knows that providing a clean, comfortable place to rest is essential for improving the health and productivity of dairy cattle – as well as for maintaining an efficient, profitable dairy operation.

And the key to creating the optimal resting place for cows, particularly within a freestall barn design, is to know which stall base options are available and what surface works best for your unique environment.

Here’s a look at several stall base alternatives: 

Concrete 

While concrete surfaces don’t need to be replaced as often as other bases, they provide cows little-to-no comfort.

Rubber

Rubber mats are relatively cheap and durable, though they provide a just a little more cushion than concrete bases.

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Rubber-filled mattresses

More comfortable than the first two options, rubber-filled mattresses work best when well-bedded with sawdust.

Dual-chamber waterbeds

A relatively new option, waterbeds result in fewer hock abrasions than mattresses and can help keep cows cool in the hot summer months.

Recycled manure

Recycled manure solids offer a soft-cushioned base and are a relatively cost-effective bedding alternative.

Jeffrey Bewley - Helping Dairy Farms Improve

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley has served as dairy housing and analytics specialist at Alltech since 2018. 

Dr. Bewley utilizes a systems approach toward managing the many interconnected parts of the dairy operation, relying on cow-based observations and data to help farmers improve productivity and profitability. 

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley’s areas of expertise include precision dairy technologies, mastitis management, cow-focused facility design and heat stress reduction. 

Jeffrey Bewley - A Systems Approach to Dairy Operation

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley offers on-farm solutions and support to dairies across the country, ensuring farmers are equipped with the expertise and technologies to maximize operational productivity and profitability.

The dairy analytics and housing specialist at Alltech, Dr. Bewley utilizes his nearly two decades of practical industry experience to assess existing systems. Identify opportunities for improvement and deliver recommendations that optimize animal health and output.

A systems approach to dairy operation

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley helps dairy farmers maximize productivity through

• Cow-focused facility design, including identifying opportunities for improving cow comfort and minimizing injury & lameness
  
  
• Mastitis management and reduction techniques to help minimize the disease and improve cow health
  
  
• Heat stress reduction solutions that optimize cool cooling potential through sprinklers, fans and ventilation
  
  
• Herd analytics, including thorough dairy record analysis that identifies meaningful, actionable opportunities for improvement

Learn more about Dr. Bewley and the Alltech team.

Jeffrey Bewley - Dairy Science Industry Success

Jeffrey Bewley has enjoyed nearly thirty years of work and success, as a member of the dairy cattle management and science industry. 

A noted academic, professional, and leader in the field of dairy science, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley has made his mark not only on countless students, colleagues, and organizations throughout his career, but also on many notable industry organizations.

Jeffrey Bewley - Dairy Cow Housing Professional

CowFocused Housing Partner Jeffrey Bewley works with dairy farmers and operations to design and build the practice housing they need to maximize cow health, comfort and production. 

As CowFocused consultant, Dr. Bewley offers the compost barn design and management consulting farmers need to minimize disruption, improve cow comfort and work toward maximum production.

Dairy Cow Housing Professional

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley worked toward and received his B.S. in Animal Sciences at the University of Kentucky (1998). He then studied dairy science at UW-Madison under Dr. Roger Palmer, and received his M.S. in Dairy Science in 2000. This was followed by PhD work at Purdue University, where Dr. Bewley focused primarily on the study of Precision Dairy Farming technologies and received his Doctorate in 2008.

Bewley taught as extension dairy professor at the University of Kentucky for nearly ten years, and worked with colleagues to establish CowFocused Housing in January 2018. Visit CowFocused Housing today to learn more.

Jeffrey Bewley: Former University of Kentucky Professor

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley was a lauded professor in the University of Kentucky Animal and Food Sciences Department between 2008-2017. 

In this role, Jeffrey Bewley taught eight classes, served as advisor to 30 undergraduate research students and 17 graduate students, delivered more than 80 invited presentations, and was published in nearly fifty dairy science-related magazines.

Jeffrey Bewley - Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle

As an expert in dairy systems management, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley understands the challenges producers are faced with when it comes to maintaining a healthy, productive herd. One ongoing challenge dairy farmers face is the identification and prevention of common metabolic disorders that can have a significant impact on an animal’s lactation performance and fertility.

Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle

Some of the most common metabolic disorders affecting dairy cows include:

• Acidosis – a condition that can result in slower forage digestion and a reduction in both cud chewing and feed intake.
  
  
• Hypomagnesemia – Also known as “grass staggers,” hypomagnesemia often results from a severe drop in dietary magnesium. The risk for this disorder tends to be highest in early spring and later autumn.
  
  
• Hypocalcemia – Commonly referred to as “milk fever,” hypocalcemia generally results from a severe drop in blood calcium levels – that which may be precipitated during the beginning of milk production.

Jeffrey Bewley currently serves as Consultant at CowFocused Housing.