The paper presents results of studies of some indoor microclimate parameters and temperature of litter bedding in a freestall barn used to house dairy cattle in a deep-litter bedding system. The studies were conducted in the period from 22 March 2014 to 22 March 2015. The analysis of distribution of litter surface temperature showed its strong relationship with indoor air temperature. In summer, temporary exceedances of the allowable indoor air temperature by even 12 °C were noted. The studies showed a significant effect of the number of animals in the barn on litter surface temperature. In the periods when cows stayed in the barn, two zones could be distinguished: the sidewall zone 1.5 m wide at the western outside wall of the building and the inner zone encompassing the remaining part of the barn. Differences in litter temperature between these zones, when cows stayed in the barn, reached 10°C. When the building was empty and animals were on pasture, the differences between litter surface temperatures were much smaller and did not exceed 3°C. ...
The aim of this study was to analyze the existing barns in terms of cow maintenance systems, structure and technological solutions of buildings at large dairy farms in northern Poland. The studies were conducted in northern Poland in West Pomeranian, Pomeranian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Warmian-Masurian and Podlaskie voivodships. The study included field inventory and questionnaire studies at some chosen farms of these voivodships.The farm size criterion was set at the herd size of 150 or more head of cattle. Based on the obtained study results and their analysis, it was established that in northern Poland the highest number of large dairy farms (41%) was located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodship and the majority of dairy farms comprised 1-3 barns built of reinforced concrete and equipped with a gravity ventilation system. In all regions prevailed farms keeping 150 - 200 head of cattle and the largest average herd size of 460 head of cattle was in the West Pomeranian voivodship. The most often barns were equipped with herringbone milking parlours (45%) for 21-25 cows milked at once and the indoor feeding table (63%). ...
