Comparison of Claw Health and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows on Elastic or Concrete Flooring

Abstract

This article reports on the effects of elastic (rubber) flooring compared with concrete flooring on claw health and milk yield in dairy cows. Milk yield and activity data of 53 complete lactations from 49 cows were recorded by an automatic milking system in the University of Munich Livestock Center dairy herd. Cows were kept in a loose housing system on concrete-slatted or rubber-matted slatted flooring. Claws were trimmed and measured linearly in combination with claw lesion diagnosis 3 times during one lactation period (including the transition phase). An automatic milking system recorded milk yield and activity. The net horn growth of the claws increased on elastic flooring. Therefore, correct and frequent claw trimming is at least as important for claw health in dairy herds kept on rubber flooring as for those on concrete-slatted flooring. Cows housed on rubber had an increased incidence of sole ulcers. Sole hemorrhages (except for hemorrhages associated with sole ulcers) occurred less frequently on rubber than on concrete. Results concerning digital dermatitis were difficult to assess, because manual manure scraping on rubber required sprinkling the flooring twice daily, which additionally moistened the digital skin of the cows. This might explain the greater incidence of digital dermatitis on elastic flooring. The incidence of clinically lame cows did not differ between flooring types. Cows showed greater activity on rubber, most likely caused by the more comfortable walking surface compared with the concrete-slatted flooring. The greater activity may indicate better overall health of high-yielding dairy cows on rubber flooring. Milk yield, however, did not differ between flooring types.

Locomotion characteristics of dairy cows walking on pasture and the effect of artificial flooring systems on locomotion comfort

“…Haufe et al (2009) reported a slight effect of floor type (solid rubber, mastic asphalt, and slatted concrete floor) on claw health, whereas Vanegas et al (2006) reported that foot lesions did not differ between floor types, although locomotion score was higher for concrete-exposed cows than for those on rubber. In contrast, Kremer et al (2007) and Fjeldaas et al (2011) reported a higher incidence of sole ulcers for rubber-exposed cows compared with those on concrete.…”

“…Previous studies reported that cows kept on rubber mats generally showed greater activity and they stood in the walking area longer than cows on mastic asphalt or slatted concrete floor (Kremer et al, 2007;Haufe et al, 2009).…”

Examinations on the relationship between claw health and the assessment of housing conditions based on a welfare index and critical checkpoints

“…Manske (2002) determined a lower incidence of sole ulcers on rubber mats. Kremer et al (2007) established more sole ulcers on elastic slatted flooring compared with concrete solid slatted flooring. Benz (2007) refers to the fact, that infectious claw lesions can be hardly influenced by elastic layers.…”

Assessment of cleanness of environmental surfaces in cattle barns and piggeries

“…A floor surface which is too rough causes rapid wear of animal hooves and grazes on other parts of the body, and floors with an initially ideal surface may become too rough or slippery because of degradation (de Belie 1997). On the other hand, despite the fact that soft flooring provides good locomotion comfort for dairy cows, some incidents and diseases are more common on soft floorings than on concrete (Kremer et al 2007), and a moderate abrasion by the flooring is required to prevent claw overgrowth (Kremer et al 2007, Telezhenko 2007. Thus a single factor or parameter, such as wearing and slipperiness used here as examples connected to cleanness, is complicated in practice.…”