Effects of surface materials of self-draining beds on cattle behavior in a temperate climate.

Ping Liu,Zhaobing Gu,Lulu Guo,Huaming Mao,Fulan Zhang,Lin Li

doi:10.5713/ajas.19.0941

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of the present experiment was to construct self-draining beds to keep surface bedding materials clean and dry for beef cattle comfort in a temperate climate.MethodsIn Experiment 1, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm (S-10a), 15 cm (S-15), and 20 cm (S-20) respectively. In Experiment 2, self-draining beds of different sizes were covered with 10 cm of sand (S-10b) and wood shavings (WS) at depths of 15 cm and 20 cm (WS-15 and WS-20). Fifteen cattle were engaged to evaluate the comfort of self-draining beds covered with different bedding materials.ResultsNo cattle lay in the feed alley and cattle spent more time lying on S-10a than S-15 or S-20 in Experiment 1 (p<0.01). No difference in lying time was detected between S-15 and S-20 (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, no cattle selected the feed alley as the lying area. Cattle preferred WS-15 as the lying area and time spent lying on WS-20 was slightly higher than on S-10b (p<0.05). Feces weight was higher in the feed alley than in the different bedding areas in both Experiments 1 and 2 (p<0.01).ConclusionSand-bedding depth at 10 cm and WSs at 15 cm above the self-draining bed can provide for the lying comfort of beef cattle. Design of a special feed alley to hold most of the feces to keep bedding materials clean and dry is desirable for organic beef cattle in a loose barn.

Highlights

Production of beef cattle is a major agricultural industry and significant part of the rural economy in Yunnan Province, China
1) S-10b, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm; WS at depths of 15 cm (WS-15), a self-draining bed was covered with wood shavings at depths of 15 cm; WS-20, a self-draining bed was covered with wood shavings at depths of 20 cm. a-c Means within variable having different superscript letters differ (p < 0.05)
1) S-10a, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm; S-15, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 15 cm; S-20, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 20 cm. 2) S-10b, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm; WS-15, a self-draining bed was covered with wood shavings at depths of 15 cm; WS-20, a self-draining bed was covered with wood shavings at depths of 20 cm. a,b Means within variable having different superscript letters differ (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Production of beef cattle is a major agricultural industry and significant part of the rural economy in Yunnan Province, China. Great technological advancements in beef cattle production have been achieved during the past few decades, but profitability is still low in most indoor beef cattle operations. To improve this situation and satisfy the demand for higher quality beef, the Yunnan Government issued a policy for the organic beef cattle industry in 2018. Slatted concrete floors are used in loose housing systems in many European countries for efficient management (e.g. ease of manure handling, cleanliness of the pen and increased animal hygiene) but steers on slatted floors display uncomfortable lying behavior, such as more frequent posture changes, than on a solid floor [2]. Organic beef cattle production regulations do not permit slatted www.ajas.info

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