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Many studies have been published on the positive effect cubicles have on the productivity of a dairy cow. However, there is little research on their role in youngstock housing.

But livestock building designer Paul Bartholomew believes cubicles score highly when compared with other housing options.

“They provide the most streamlined process of bringing heifers into the milking herd,” he suggests.

A lactating heifer that refuses to lie in cubicles will often exit the herd before she reaches the midway point in her second lactation – the breakeven point on rearing costs.

See also: 6 common youngstock housing mistakes farmers make

Start the animal in cubicles at a young age and she will be happier in that environment, says Mr Bartholomew.

✅ Heifers are trained to lie in beds before they join the milking herd

✅ No ongoing cost of bedding material after initial investment in mats 

❌ If the business model changes, to contract-rearing or buying in replacements, the beds won’t be suitable for a mature cow

❌ No immediate return on investment as with an adult cow

He recommends budgeting approximately £65 for each heifer cubicle place, excluding any mattress cost.

This can be made cheaper if it is a head-to-head design, and compares with £70-£75 for a mature cow place.

Getting the dimensions of the heifer cubicle bed right is the biggest challenge, because the animal is still growing.

Therefore, Mr Bartholomew recommends basing calculations on the heifer’s projected maximum size in that housing.

Every herd is different and there are size variations within breeds, too.

This may mean accepting some manual scraping of beds at the beginning of the housing period, because if beds are too short, heifers will perch and may have foot problems persisting into lactation.

“Work out the approximate average weight and size for your heifers and devise a bed length that suits,” he advises.

Consider what age heifer the cubicles are intended for.

“It is usually 6-12 months, 12-18 months or 18-24 months. Decide at what stage they will be housed or whether they will be run in these groups all the way through to calving.”

Another option is to have different sizes for different age groups running down the shed.

The type of loop is down to personal preference and should be a secondary consideration to other factors, says Mr Bartholomew.

“The length to the brisket board, the lunge space and what they are lying on are the most important factors.

“Then look at the loop’s design and measurements; it is almost irrelevant what is holding them there,” says Mr Bartholomew.

For the bed surface, he says a standard 25mm rubber mat is all that is needed because it is for a lighter animal.

“They are not on it for very long. It will provide sufficient comfort, is relatively cheap and will have a lifespan of about 10 years.

“It is not necessary to use deep mats or a mattress system, because there is not enough research to show that a cow will produce more litres of milk in her lifetime as a result of that investment,” he explains.

The beds must be comfortable, though, or the heifer will favour the scraping passage and its greater lunging space – a light dusting of bedding material on a concrete surface is not an option, says Mr Bartholomew.

To encourage the heifer to use the bed, he advises guiding her in with some feed or nuts that she doesn’t normally have.

Dutch vet and cow behaviour expert Joep Driessen, of Cow Signals, recommends initially sprinkling a layer of straw on top of the rubber mat, to help a heifer transitioning from straw bedding work out where to lay down, and to prevent a growth check.

“Many calves can stop growing when they are moved from straw bedding to rubber mats because the beds feel colder,” he explains.

All of Fraser Jones’ heifer replacements are in cubicles by the age of 12 months.

Mr Jones opted for cubicles when he reorganised the business to create a dedicated youngstock site.

He had been milking on three sites, but one is now used primarily for youngstock rearing.

This makes staff management easier, with a dedicated team designated to the youngstock work.

Up to 700 replacements a year are reared at the site at Berriew, Welshpool.

When Mr Jones was designing the facilities, he chose cubicle housing to reduce stress on heifers entering the milking herd.

“If they go into cubicles at a young age, we have very little trouble when they start milking. If you make the cubicle place enticing and comfy, they will go into them easily,” he explains.

He has two sheds with cubicles with different spacing according to age – from 12-14 months heifers are in beds that are 1m wide by 1.5m long, and from 14 months to calving the beds are 1.15m wide and 1.6m long.

The cow cubicles are bigger again at 1.23m wide and 1.63m long.

Mr Jones opted for Wilson C50 cubicles for both youngstock and milkers because the headrails are adjustable according to the size of the animal.

This, he says, allows flexibility should he change the system.

The heifer beds are topped with pasture mats with 0.25mm foam and a protective cover.

Every heifer is fitted with an activity collar when she enters the cubicles from loose housing.

These collars are used to monitor breeding activity, with a view to inseminate youngstock at an average age of 13.5 months.

The youngstock facilities also have foot-baths with a formalin solution at the crossover points. Heifers are walked through these up to three times a week.

Heifers remain in the sheds until three weeks before calving, when they move into straw yards for the transition period.

The farm’s average age at first calving is 24.5 months.

Once an animal is eating well after calving, she transfers to the main cubicle housing at the heifer-rearing unit with a social group she is familiar with, because sections of this housing are filled as they calve.

This prevents any issues with bullying.

Heifers are milked at this site for a week, with their milk fed to the calves, before moving to one of the dairy sites to join the main milking herd.

“When they are entering the milking herd they know the cubicles; they are used to them. It is one less stress factor in what can be a stressful period when she is transitioning to milking and joining the main herd,” says Mr Jones.

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