How do I know if my barn is comfortable? Measure cow comfort with CCI

Measuring cow comfort with the Cow Comfort Index (CCI)

You've probably wondered: How do I know if my barn is comfortable? Or: Is it possible to measure the comfort of my cows? Cows unfortunately cannot tell you themselves, but there are ways to determine this. You can measure the comfort of your barn using the Cow Comfort Index (CCI).

Why is cow comfort important?

A comfortable barn is essential for the health and productivity of your cows. The benefits of a high CCI include:

• More lying hours: in a comfortable barn, cows lie down for an average of 12 to 14 hours a day.
• Better digestion: while lying down, cows ruminate on their food, ensuring better nutrient absorption.
• Higher milk production: more lying hours lead to higher milk production.
• Fewer claw problems: lying down reduces pressure on the claws and prevents lameness.
• Lower costs: Fewer health problems mean fewer vet visits and lower costs.

So investing in cow comfort pays off in the form of higher milk production and lower veterinary costs.

How do I know if my barn is comfortable?

With the Cow Comfort Index, you examine the comfort of your barn based on the lying behaviour of your cows. The CCI looks at the percentage of cows lying in the cubicles.

What to look out for when it comes to comfort in a dairy barn?

1. Count the number of cows currently in a cubicle.
2. Count how many of these cows are actually lying down.
3. Divide the number of lying cows by the total.
4. Multiply this by 100%.
5. The result is your CCI: the percentage of cows lying down.

If there are 100 cows in the cubicles, at least 85 cows should be lying down. A comfortable barn has a CCI of at least 85%.

Want to get started on improving cow comfort in your barn?

Download our e-book about barn renovation and cow comfort for free here.