A dairy cow isn't a machine. She's an animal, and the happier she is, the more milk she produces, and the higher the quality of the milk. Dairy farmers live and die by the slimmest of profit margins, so it makes sense to crunch the numbers and make the animal as comfortable as you can afford. If a new farm initiative costs $X, but it results in 10 x $X in added milk profits over the next however-many years, then it's definitely worth it!

 

And so: waterbeds for dairy cows.

In the human world, waterbeds have a reputation that stems from their popularity during the "Swinging Seventies." For people over a certain age, it's impossible to think of a waterbed without picturing a huge bed frame covered with black Naugahyde, dressed with sateen sheets. Maybe a mirrored headboard while you're at it, or a dude with lots of gold jewelry and chest hair reclining provocatively.

 

But if you have ever slept on a waterbed (actually slept, not "slept," wink wink nudge nudge) you know: they are crazy comfortable. Turns out, cows think so, too!

 

These beds have to be designed to support a dairy cow weighing about 1,500 pounds, so you can't just buy one at Sears. DCC Waterbeds creates dual-chamber waterbeds for cows. The beds sit in a concrete frame, with the top of the water cushion flush with the floor. Once the cows get used to the strange texture, they reportedly grow quite fond of them.

 

Cows were designed by nature to lie down in pasture, on soft earth and grass. Cows spend rather a lot of time lying down to rest and chew their cuds. (Producing all that milk takes a lot out of a gal!) 

 

When a cow drops down on a dairy barn's hard cold concrete floor, it causes a shock to their knees and hocks. And lying on a concrete floor causes sores at pressure points. And is every bit as uncomfortable as you might imagine. As a bonus, ironically the waterbeds stay drier than concrete floors, which means that they are healthier for the cows. 

 

Farmers are reporting that their cows have a lower white cell count (indicating that they are healthier), and that swollen hocks and pressure point sores are a thing of the past. This is a win for everyone - the farmers can charge more for their milk, the consumer gets better milk, and the cows lead happier, more humane lives. Slosh on, ladies!