Could living space provision in the first lactation have long term effects on milk production in housed dairy cows?

Summary

This prospective cohort study investigated whether providing increased living space (6.5 m² versus 3 m²) to primiparous dairy cows during first lactation produces lasting effects on lifetime milk production. Cows in the high space group produced significantly more milk across multiple lactation stages (38.92 L/day versus 37.55 L/day overall), with differences most pronounced in early lactation, mid-lactation, and late lactation phases, though no difference in herd longevity was observed. The findings suggest that space provision during first lactation may have sustained implications for milk yield, with potential consequences for dairy farm sustainability, welfare perception, and economic performance.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in the United Kingdom and the findings are directly applicable to UK housed dairy systems. The work addresses housing management practices that are highly variable across UK dairy farms and could inform evidence-based recommendations for space provision standards for first-lactation animals, supporting more sustainable and welfare-conscious dairy production.

Key measures

Mean milk volume per lifetime day (litres); milk production at specific lactation stages (<400 days, 800–1000 days, >1200 days in milk); time to herd exit (Cox-Proportional hazards model)

Outcomes reported

The study measured lifetime milk production (volume per day) and time to herd exit in dairy cows provided with either standard (3 m²) or increased (6.5 m²) living space during first lactation. Milk production was tracked across different stages of lactation and lifetime.

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