Some dairymen report reduced problems with cows digging out clay based free stalls when 13 or 14 inch used car tires with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage are embedded in the stall base. Excessively large stalls promote a build-up of manure which increases exposure to mastitis causing organisms. Stall length, and freedom of movement in the tie-up system are more critical than width of stalls or presence of partitions. Recommended stalls sizes are given in Table 1. For free stalls, a neck or head rail is essential to keep cows back when standing.
Length is with use of cow trainers.
Fewer injuries are associated with these designs. Figure 1 . Mushroom Partition Figure 2 . In tie stall barns, single head rail stalls allow cows to move forward with head down for feeding, but keep them back when the head is up. These stalls are lowest in cost and can be designed to release an entire row at the same time.