Influence of floor type in the walking area of cubicle housing systems on the behaviour of dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the behaviour of dairy cows in cubicle housing systems with different floor types (mastic asphalt, slatted concrete floor and rubber floor) in the walking area. From a total number of 18 farms, 6 farms each were equipped with one of the given floor types, and stride length and self-grooming behaviour (self-grooming caudal to the costal arch standing on three or four legs) as well as the general activity of the cows (standing and lying) was observed directly. Stride length was measured both in winter during the indoor housing period and in summer during the pasture period. The cows’ stride length was longest on rubber floor, followed by mastic asphalt and slatted concrete floor, and increased from winter to summer on all floor types (interaction of floor type and season: F 2,101 = 4.30, p = 0.02). Self-grooming behaviour and general activity of the cows were observed during summer, autumn and winter. No significant differences in self-grooming behaviour were found between the three floor types. Cows stood for longer in the walking area on rubber floor than on mastic asphalt or slatted concrete floor, with an interaction between floor type and season ( F 4,47 = 4.55, p = 0.0035). It is concluded that rubber floor is more suitable and slatted concrete floor less suitable than mastic asphalt in the walking area of cubicle housing systems for dairy cows.