Influence of floor surface and access to pasture on claw characteristics in dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems
2014
Haufe, H. C. | Friedli, K. | Gygax, L. | Wechsler, B., Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Taenikon/Ettenhausen (Switzerland). Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs
This study aimed at investigating the effect of the fl oor type used in the walking area of cubicle housing systems and of access to pasture on claw dimensions and claw shape in dairy cows. Data were collected on 36 farms, 12 farms each fi tted with mastic asphalt, slatted concrete or solid rubber fl ooring. With each fl oor type, cows on half of the farms had access to pasture in summer. The farms were visited three times at intervals of about 6 months and data were collected from 10 cows during each visit. Net growth of the claw horn was highest on rubber fl ooring and lowest on mastic asphalt. On all fl oor types, claw angles were larger after the winter period and smaller after the summer period. With regard to claw shape, fl oor type had an effect on the occurrence of fl at, concave and overgrown claw soles. In conclusion, none of the investigated fl oor types was clearly superior to the others with regard to claw dimensions and claw shape, and access to pasture during summer (median 4 h per day) had only little infl uence on the investigated claw characteristics.
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Эту запись предоставил Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station