[An economic evaluation of different types of barns for dairy cattle [stanchion barn, cubicle barn, loose housing, hoof disease, milk production]]

During the period 1970-1977, the National Institute of Animal Science carried out an experiment with different types of cattle barns. The present study gives an economic evaluation of these types. In the experiment three types of cattle barns were examined: 1. stanchion barn with gutter cleaner, 2. insulated cubicle barn with slatted floor, and 3. loose housing barn with deep bedding. The herdsizes were about 24 cow years complete with young stock, and the roughage consisted of beets in moderate quantity and grass silage, hay and pasture. The analysis is based on average results covering the period of 1971-1977. In the first half of the period, the cows have been at pasture during the summer, while stall-feeding is used all year round in the last half of the period. The young stock has been at pasture during the summer throughout the period. Concerning the biological and technical results, there are marked differences between the three types of barns. The fertility of the cows is poorest in the stanchion barn and among other things therefore, the replacement percentage is highest. With regard to diseases, which are due to the environment, the differences are characteristic. Diseases of the udder, the limbs, the digestive system and also reproductive and calving diseases occur most often in the stanchion barn. Diseases of the hoofs occur relatively often in the loose housing barns. These conditions influence milk yield, which is 5,515 kg fat corrected milk per cow year in the stanchion barn, 5,630 kg in the cubicle barn, and 6,972 kg in the loose housing barn with deep bedding. Also the gain is least in the stanchion barn. The economic analysis is based on herdsizes of 60 cow years complete with young stock. The results, stated by the labour income, range from DKr. 17 per man-hour is the stanchion barn to respectively DKr. 32 and 40 per man-hour in the cubicle barn and the loose housing barn with deep bedding. This order of economic efficiency persists within relevant price variations of the input and output factors with the exception of fodder straw and bedding. A rise in prices of straw by DKr. 0.20 per kg is enough to change the and next best in the loose housing barn with deep bedding. However, the price of straw has to rise by about DKr. 0.60 per kg to make the bedded barn unable to compete with the stanchion barn. The analysis does not offer an evaluation of the economic consequences related to alternative herdsizes and feeding systems. Concerning the costs of the cattle barns, it should be stressed that the depreciation period is assumed to be the same for the three barn types. The maintenance is calculated as a fixed percentage of the investment in buildings and equipment