Effect of different free stall surfaces on behavioural, productive and metabolic parameters in dairy cows

Calamari, Luigi; Calegari, Ferdinando; Stefanini, L.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2009.05.013

Cited by 30 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The preference of sand for lying is in concurrence with previous studies showing that healthy dairy cows prefer to lie in stalls with deep bedding of sand or sawdust (Tucker et al, 2003), and sand or straw (Calamari et al, 2009), compared with stalls equipped with mattresses. However, lame cows appear to be more sensitive to the lying surface than do nonlame cows.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Preferences of lame cows for type of surface and level of social contact in hospital pens

Jensen

Herskin

Thomsen

et al. 2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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To investigate preferences of lame cows for flooring and level of social contact, 37 lame, lactating dairy cows (diagnosed with sole ulcer or white line disease) were housed individually for 6 d in experimental hospital pens, where they could choose between 2 equally sized areas (6m × 4.5m) with either deep-bedded sand or a rubber surface. On both surfaces, cows could choose between 2 equally sized areas either near or away from heifers in a neighboring group pen. Cows spent more time lying on the deep-bedded sand than on the rubber surface (870 vs. 71min/d), whereas they spent less time upright (standing or walking) on the sand than on the rubber surface (180 vs. 319min/d). In addition, cows spent less time self-grooming on the sand than on the rubber surface (2.2 vs. 4.7% of time spent upright). With regard to level of social contact, cows spent more time near the neighboring heifers than away from them; this was true both while lying (565 vs. 374min/d) and upright (276 vs. 223min/d). Self-grooming was seen significantly more near neighboring heifers than away from them (4.8 vs. 3.3% of time spent upright). When lying, cows more often positioned themselves in areas of the pen where they could maintain visual contact with neighboring heifers. Lame cows with sole ulcers or white line disease preferred deep-bedded sand for lying, and preferred to perform self-grooming while on the rubber surface. Similarly, they preferred to lie and to perform self-grooming while positioned near animals in a neighboring pen. These results suggest that provision of a deep-bedded lying area in hospital pens is important to the welfare of lame cows. We found no evidence of isolation-seeking behavior in animals with these diagnoses (and no systemic symptoms) while they were kept in individual hospital pens.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Preferences of lame cows for type of surface and level of social contact in hospital pens

Jensen

Herskin

Thomsen

et al. 2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…These results seem to indicate that during summer the sand bedding combined with a cooling system with fans and mild misting in the rest area is very useful to maintain an acceptable lying time in free stall. In our previous researches a greater utilization of the free stalls with sand as bedding material compared to mattress and straw was observed during spring (Calamari et al 2009), and in particular during summer. In other studies a preference for materials other than sand was observed (Shim et al, 1998;Tucker et al 2000).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This is not possible to obtain with straw or other organic materials (Calegari et al 2004;Rodenburg et al 1994;Turner 1994;Visser 1994;Vokey et al 2003). On sand bedding, the cows rest longer (Calamari et al 2009) and on the whole demonstrate a better tolerance to heat stress (Calegari et al 2004). The use of sand as bedding, given the physico-chemical characteristics of the material, could allow a type of cooling to be carried out in the rest area similar to that used in the feeding area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Misting and fan cooling of the rest area in a dairy barn

2011

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This summer study aimed to evaluate the effect on dairy cows, kept in a free stall barn equipped with fans and sprinklers in the feeding area, of the delivery rate of misters in a cooling system in rest areas with different bedding materials. Thirty cows were divided into two homogenous groups according to milk yield and kept in two pens: one had beds with sand (SAMM) while the other had straw (STLM). Each pen was equipped with 2 fans (Ø 70 cm, 0.50 kW) and 2 misters (delivery rate of 11.2 and 22.5 L/h in STLM and SAMM, respectively) in the rest area. Microclimatic parameters, rectal temperature (RT), breathing rate (BR), milk yield, and some milk traits were recorded. Behavioural routines of the cows (standing and lying) were also continuously recorded during the hotter days. During the trial, two mild-moderate heat waves were observed. During these hotter periods, the daily maximum temperature recorded in the rest areas was 28.9 in SAMM and 31.2 in STLM, and the daily maximum THI was 78.2 in SAMM and 81.5 in STLM. In these periods, the cows in SAMM compared with those in STLM showed lower BR (P < 0.05) and greater rest time (10.2 and 7.8 h/day in SAMM and STLM, respectively). The RT did not differ (38.89 ± 0.29 and 38.88 ± 0.33°C in STLM and SAMM r,espectively). In conclusion, our research suggests that the cooling system using fans plus misters with mild wetting in rest areas with sand as bedding materials reduces heat stress and improves cow comfort.

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“…In some instances, these closeup pens are deep-bedded straw pens as an alternative to freestalls, because it is known that cows spend more time lying down on deep-bedded straw compared with freestalls (Phillips and Schofield, 1994;Fregonesi et al, 2009). This is likely due to better comfort while lying on deep straw, but deep straw bedding may also provide better traction when transitioning between lying and standing; dairy cows lie down for longer and change posture more frequently on soft surfaces compared with hard surfaces (Tucker et al, 2003;Calamari et al, 2009). Furthermore, a deep-bedded lying area has been found to improve leg and hoof health (Phillips and Schofield, 1994;Weary and Taszkun, 2000;Livesey et al, 2002) and reduce the occurrence of lameness (Cook et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of housing on calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows

Campler

Munksgaard

Jensen

2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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The present study investigated how calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows were affected by housing during the final 4 wk precalving. One hundred twenty-one cows (36 primiparous and 85 multiparous) were moved either to a group pen with deep straw bedding or into freestall housing 4 wk before the expected calving date. Individual straw-bedded maternity pens were placed adjacent to the straw-bedded group pens, and cows were moved to the maternity pens before calving. Cows that spent more than 12 h in the maternity pen before calving and calved unassisted were included in this study (39 multiparous cows and 15 primiparous cows). Dams were observed from 6 h before calving until 6 h after calving. The time from the onset of rhythmical abdominal contractions (defined as the onset of stage II labor), the time from a visible amniotic sac, and the time from visible calf feet until the birth of the calf were recorded. Furthermore, the cows' latency to stand up after birth was recorded. Calves were observed during the first 6 h after birth and the latency to first standing attempt, to first successful standing, to first suckle attempt, and to first successful suckling were recorded. Cows previously housed in straw pens expelled the calf faster once the calves' feet were visible compared with cows previously housed in freestalls. Multiparous cows stood sooner and licked their calf sooner after birth compared with primiparous cows. Jersey calves of cows previously housed in straw pens also stood up and suckled their dams sooner compared with Jersey calves of cows previously housed in freestalls. Holstein cows previously housed in straw pens tended to stand up sooner compared with Holstein cows previously housed in freestalls. These results suggest that a longer period of housing on deep-bedded straw compared with freestalls with mattresses before calving may facilitate the calving process, whereas the effect on calf vitality needs further investigation.

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Effect of different free stall surfaces on behavioural, productive and metabolic parameters in dairy cows

Cited by 30 publications

References 25 publications

Preferences of lame cows for type of surface and level of social contact in hospital pens

Preferences of lame cows for type of surface and level of social contact in hospital pens

Misting and fan cooling of the rest area in a dairy barn

The effect of housing on calving behavior and calf vitality in Holstein and Jersey dairy cows

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