Stand-off pad
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A stand-off pad is a purpose built, drained loafing area where stock can be held for long periods when it is not suitable to have them on pasture. These can be covered or uncovered Uncovered stand-off pads must still provide shelter from inclement weather through siting or including a windbreak. In most cases, stand-off pads are not a place to feed animals but a large area for stock to lie down, rest while protecting pastures from damage such as pugging and overgrazing.
Paddock damage from pugging can significantly reduce pasture growth for months, which in turn impacts milk production. The primary purpose of stand-off pads is to protect soils and pastures from damage caused by cows standing on wet ground, allowing pastures to recover faster and maintain productivity.
Stand-off pads can also help extend paddock rotations and improve overall pasture management. By providing cows with a place to rest off-paddock, they are more likely to graze efficiently when returned to pasture rather than just seeking feed.
A stand-off pad may add value to your farm system if you experience problems with:
- Soil structure or pasture damage during wet conditions.
- Poor pasture persistence or pasture utilisation.
- Overgrazing or slow pasture regrowth.
- Laneways getting damaged from standing cows on them.
- Increased lameness and mastitis following or during wet periods.
- Feed wastage when feeding supplements in the paddock.
- Difficulty calving cows in wet conditions.
- Limited shelter options, making it harder to protect cows from extreme weather
Design considerations
The size and complexity of your stand-off pad should suit your farm system, herd, and management goals. A well-planned pad must be effective, easy to maintain, and future proofed. While designing a stand-off pad may seem straightforward, several key factors influence its long-term success and the wellbeing of your cows. Just as important as good design is proper maintenance - many well-built stand-off pads fail simply because they are not looked after. While maintenance does come at a cost, it is essential to protect your investment and ensure the pad remains functional for years to come.
If you’re thinking about investing in a stand-off pad, you need to have thought about what the limiting factors are on your farm and how a pad can improve your operation both now and in the future. What will be the result of putting a stand-off pad into your farm system? How will the change affect the risks your farm business is exposed to? What additional skills or knowledge do you and your team need to run this system effectively?
If you’re thinking about investing in a stand-off pad, you need to have thought about what the limiting factors are on your farm and how a pad can improve your operation both now and in the future.
What will be the result of putting a stand-off pad into your farm system? How will the change affect the risks your farm business is exposed to? What additional skills or knowledge do you and your team need to run this system effectively?
Surfaces
Cows need to lie down for at least eight hours a day. The main factor overriding all others is the cow’s ability to lie down comfortably on the surface. There are three key features that make a cow want to lie down. Is the surface soft, not slippery and dry? Cows will lie down sooner on softer surfaces compared to harder surfaces. If the surface is overly slippery, the cows will be less likely to lie down and won’t feel confident walking. Cows are very reluctant to lie down on wet surfaces. If you intend to use your stand-off pad during lactation, a wet and dirty surface will increase the risk of mastitis.