Happy cows producing more milk in new barn, farmer says

A dairy farm in P.E.I. is discovering a comfy cow can be a cash cow.

MacTalla Farms in Bonshaw has built a new barn with plastic feed rails and stalls that make it more pleasant for the cows to eat and rest.

The feed rails lean forward when the cows push on them, making it easier than tilting their heads through the old metal bars to reach the hay.

"There's no abrasions on their neck, and it takes little effort to lean ahead and feed," said farmer Jeff MacQuarrie.

Building a new barn with the new technology cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. But MacQuarrie saidhe'salready seeing the benefits of happier cows.

Milk production, he said, is up almost 10 kilograms per cow, per day.

"They seem to like it, so we like it."

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