Abstract
Simple SummaryIn this study the effect of different flooring systems on locomotion, claw conformation, loading, claw- and leg disorders was assessed in heifers from one year before to one year after calving. After calving, heifers kept on alleys covered with rubber flooring were found to develop less lameness, fewer claw disorders of the sole horn and fewer leg lesions than those kept on concrete alleys. Recruitment heifers reared on soft deep straw bedding had fewer sole horn lesions and more overgrown claws before calving, but were more prone to severe sole horn lesions after calving, than those reared in cubicles with hard concrete floors.Claw health, an important dairy cow welfare parameter, may be affected by early-life foot/leg stresses. To investigate this, groups of pregnant heifers were allocated to deep straw bedding (Soft) or cubicles (Hard), both with scraped concrete feeding alleys. After the grazing season, they were re-housed in cubicle systems, half on slatted concrete (Hard) and half on slatted rubber (Soft) alleys. Claw measurements, contact area and pressure distribution claw/flooring, claw disorders and leg lesions were recorded at the start and end of each housing season. Locomotion and leg lesions were also scored monthly after calving. Prevalence of sole haemorrhages was higher among pregnant heifers in cubicles than in deep straw. After calving, first-calvers on Hard floors had higher odds for lameness (OR = 3.6; p < 0.01), sole haemorrhages/ulcers (OR = 2.2; p < 0.05), white-line haemorrhages (OR = 2.8; p < 0.01) and leg lesions (OR = 2.6; p < 0.02) than those on Soft floors. Lowest prevalence and severity of sole and white-line haemorrhages (non-significant) in first-calvers was found in those on Soft floors and reared on Hard floors and the highest prevalence and severity on those on Hard floors reared on Soft floors. Soft flooring after calving is of most importance for healthy feet and legs.
Highlights
Pasture, to which the claws were adapted during evolution, is normally the best ground for claws and legs
The present study clearly showed that the slatted rubber flooring resulted in lower prevalence of sole and white-line haemorrhages
The tougher cubicle system with a larger area of concrete flooring for recruitment heifers resulted in more wear, shorter claw length and a higher prevalence of sole disorders compared with those housed on deep straw bedding
Summary
To which the claws were adapted during evolution, is normally the best ground for claws and legs. It gives a balance between claw horn wear and growth and the claws are loaded in a natural way [1]. Grazing dairy cows possibly have free access to a comfortable lying surface, which facilitates lying and rising and allows the vast majority of leg lesions, such as hairlessness, swellings and ulcers, caused by suboptimal stalls to recover. Where pasture area is sufficiently large, cow manure is widely dispersed, animal hygiene is generally very good and claws escape attacks by bacteria, which are often connected with manure contamination of the feet and legs. Suboptimal dairy cow flooring is a major risk factor for impaired foot and leg health
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