They closed a crossover to add stalls

A remodel added six freestalls by walling off a transverse crossover. On paper, the stall-to-cow ratio improved. In practice, the dead-end alley caused congestion at the remaining crossing while the far-end stalls sat empty.

Subordinate cows avoided the gauntlet, sacrificing resting time and standing longer in the alley. The resulting localized overcrowding is consistent with increased lameness risk and disrupted feeding.

Management restored the crossover, sacrificing six stalls; night lying time rebounded. The expansion math had counted steel, not safe, navigable steps. Educational only — not a diagnosis, prescription, or treatment protocol.