Judging freestalls according to criteria that contribute to comfort and cleanliness is more important than the mechanisms used to implement those principles. For example, there are many types of freestall partitions, several of which may satisfy the basic needs of the cow. Evaluating the different partitions on the basis of how they satisfy the needs of the cow is more valuable than basing decisions on biases and prejudices. Other aspects of freestall housing ventilation, access to feed and water, and walking surfaces will be discussed also. Basis for Freestall Design Cleanliness and comfort are two basis prerequisites that must be satisfied in freestall design and construction.
Cleanliness relates to clean, dry conditions, especially the stall bed in the vicinity of the udder.
Comfort means a comfortable bed and roomy dimensions to accommodate the cow's ability to easily move in and out of the stall and allow her to lie comfortably in the stall. In simplest terms, the main purpose of a freestall is to reduce exposure of the teat ends to mastitis causing organisms. So we make every effort to provide a clean, dry place for the udder on the freestall bed. Then we expect the cow to choose a freestall for a place to lie down. An effective freestall must be sufficiently appealing to a cow to cause her to choose to lie in a stall 10-14 hours per day.