November 1, 2023
A study conducted by INRAE, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Nantes (Oniris), and Bioret Agri evaluated the effects of water-cooled mattresses on the well-being of high-producing dairy cows under mild to moderate thermal stress. The study utilized Aiherd’s advanced monitoring to capture lying time and specific behaviors, offering a unique look at cow comfort.
“Comfort is key,” says Dr. Relun from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. “We know lying time is a strong indicator of well-being, and Aiherd allowed us to measure this accurately.” The study found that cows with water-cooled mattresses spent nearly two additional hours lying down daily compared to those on traditional bedding. While no significant impact was seen on milk production or lameness—which was mostly linked to digital dermatitis—this increase in lying time signals improved comfort for the cows, particularly during warmer conditions.
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Using Aiherd, Dr. Relun and her team observed notable improvements in cow comfort metrics. “Aiherd removes the guesswork,” Dr. Relun notes. “It provides accurate data on behavior changes we’d otherwise miss.” By enhancing farmers’ intuition with data-driven insights, Aiherd helps validate innovations like water-cooled bedding, revealing subtle but meaningful impacts on animal welfare.
Beyond just comfort, lying time is a direct measure of stress reduction in cows. Increased lying time, as observed in this study, shows that water-cooled bedding could be a vital asset in keeping dairy cows more comfortable and resilient, even under moderate heat stress.
Comfort Monitoring
Tracks lying time as a direct measure of cow comfort.
Heat Stress Relief
Water-cooled bedding helps reduce moderate heat stress.
Behavior Insights
Understand how environmental changes impact your herd.
Enhanced Welfare
A focus on comfort without disrupting existing routines.
Modernizing dairy farms doesn’t have to be complex. Like Dr. Relun’s team discovered, Aiherd offers a straightforward solution to track cow comfort. For Bioret Agri and Oniris, Aiherd’s data confirmed the benefits of water-cooled mattresses, supporting a more comfortable, healthier environment for cows. As the study shows, Aiherd is an investment in both animal welfare and farm success.
• Email: info@aiherd.io
• Phone: +332 55 99 06 01
Interested in learning more?
Reach out to us directly—we’re happy to answer any questions.
