Influence of Free-Stall Flooring on Comfort and Hygiene of Dairy Cows During Warm Climatic Conditions

Abstract

An evaluation of behavioral and hygienic conditions was carried out with 4 materials used as free-stall flooring for dairy cows: polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polypropylene vinyl acetate (PVA) mats, wood shavings, and solid manure. The free-stall type selected by cows was evaluated in response to changes in environmental temperature and humidity. Two tests were used: 1) a preference test, in which 8 cows were housed in a pen with 32 free stalls and 4 types of flooring; and 2) an aversion test, in which 32 cows were placed in 4 pens, each with 8 free stalls. The free stalls in each pen had a single type of bedding material. These tests showed that the comfort of dairy cows was predominantly influenced by environmental conditions. The preference test for lying showed that cows preferred free-stall floors with EVA mats over those with PVA mats, wood shavings, and solid manure (332.4 +/- 24.0 vs. 130.8 +/- 6.2, 160.9 +/- 23.7, and 102.6 +/- 23.2 min/d, respectively), but under conditions of heat stress, with a temperature-humidity index > 80, they chose wood shavings and solid manure lying areas. These results were confirmed by the aversion test. In all experimental and environmental conditions, the PVA mats were the least suitable. The mats contaminated with organic manure and the free stalls bedded with wood shavings and organic solids did not differ in either the coliform load on the lying surfaces (EVA mats: 290 +/- 25; PVA mats: 306 +/- 33; wood shavings: 290 +/- 39; and solid manure: 305 +/- 23 log(10) cfu/mL) or the total bacterial count in the raw milk (EVA mats: 232 +/- 22; PVA mats: 233 + 24; wood shavings: 221 +/- 24; and solid manure: 220 +/- 25 log(10) cfu/mL). These results demonstrate that the comfort of dairy cows housed in barns with free stalls as resting areas does not depend only on the material used, but also on the value of the material in microenvironmental conditions.

The effect of out-wintering pad design on dirtiness score, somatic cell score and mastitis incidence in dairy cows

“…), and during year 2 approximately every 2.5 weeks (17 6 3.3 days). Previously published scoring systems use complex measurements (Hickey et al, 2002) or require the use of equipment while cattle are restrained (Zdanowicz et al, 2004;De Palo et al, 2006). Due to the large number of animals in this study, and in order to avoid movement of the cows to a holding area, a scoring system was developed that facilitated rapid assessment of the hygiene of unrestrained cows.…”

The Impact of Localization and Barn Type on Insolation of Sidewall Stalls During Summer

“…When hot weather combined with high humidity create uncomfortable environment, which can cause heat stress in dairy cows, bedding in stalls should be helpful in absorbing excess heat and sweat thereby cooling the animal's body [De Palo et al 2006]. It is important especially because as reported by Aguilar [2013] 20% of the body of a lying cow remains in contact with bedding.…”

“…Since cows lie down for 8 -16 hours per day, ensuring an optimal and undisturbed lying time is essential for their health, preventing also hoof diseases and lameness [De Palo et al 2006; Tucker et al 2009; Radoń et al 2014]. The choice of the stall by the cow, comfort of lying, standing up and lying down depends on the type of stall dividers, and quality and temperature of bedding, among other things [Camiloti et al 2012; Kaczor et al 2011].…”

Main causes of poor welfare in intensively reared dairy cows

“…For example, comparing sawdust, geotextile mattress, and sand as cubicle bedding materials, Tucker et al (2003) showed how mattresses are less preferred and, in our opinion, this result confirms the suggestion from a Canadian survey (Weary and Taszkun, 2000), where mattresses were related to a higher prevalence of hock lesions. However, a seasonal influence on cow preference must be considered, in the Italian climate, as evidenced in the work of De Palo et al (2006). They reported the results of a preference test for lying, which showed that cows preferred cubicle floors with polyethylene vinyl acetate mats over those with polypropylene vinyl acetate mats, wood shavings or solid manure; nevertheless, under conditions of heat stress, with a temperature-humidity index >80, their first choice was wood shavings and solid manure lying areas (De Palo et al, 2006).…”

“…However, a seasonal influence on cow preference must be considered, in the Italian climate, as evidenced in the work of De Palo et al (2006). They reported the results of a preference test for lying, which showed that cows preferred cubicle floors with polyethylene vinyl acetate mats over those with polypropylene vinyl acetate mats, wood shavings or solid manure; nevertheless, under conditions of heat stress, with a temperature-humidity index >80, their first choice was wood shavings and solid manure lying areas (De Palo et al, 2006). More recently, a comparison between straw and sand as bedding in cubicles showed that straw increased the time that cows spend lying, suggesting how cows preferred straw cubicles to sand cubicles.…”