Products Products
Facts worth knowing about KRAIBURG rubber floorings / mats for cows, bulls and calves

Deep-litter cubicles: effects of maintainance on lying behaviour of dairy cows 

Problem:

Cubicles are frequently insufficiently maintained on farms. The question is whether this causes shorter lying times and affects well-being. Dairy cows are supposed to lie 12 to 14 hours per day in their cubicles.
A study of the Bavarian Research Centre for Agriculture shows the effects of bedding maintenance on the lying times of the cows.

Methods:

This study aimed to comparing different levels of straw bedding (good: straw bedding 20 cm; bad: bedding 5 cm, around 3600 cm² without bedding) to soft lying mats (KRAIBURG KEW Plus) regarding lying behaviour and preferences. Data were collected in a dairy house with 60 cows (Bavarian Fleckvieh) and a robotic milking system.

 

Tiefboxen in gutem Pflegezustandgood straw bedding maintenance

 

 

Tiefboxen in schlechtem Pflegezustandbad straw bedding maintenance

 

Results:

  • Die Belegung der Tiefboxen reduzierte sich auf weniger als die Hälfte. 

  • Die Liegezeiten pro Kuh und Tag gingen um über 2 Stunden zurück.

Preferences of straw bedding levels and lying mats

preference behaviour of cows between deep-litter cubicles and lying mats on cubicles depends on bedding maintenance

Lying time (h) depending on different straw bedding Level
lying times of cows in deep-litter cubicles depend on bedding maintenance

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion reduced bedding levels affects the cows lying behaviour and lying position. High straw bedding quality is important for a good welfare in dairy cattle. If farmers have not enough time for cleaning and littering the straw beddings they should use soft rubber mats.

Source: Reiter, K., Freiberger, F., Abriel, M., “Straw bedding maintenance: Effects on lying behaviour and preferences of dairy cattle”,

LfL Grub, 2006

Produkte für die Tiefbox
maxiBOX Komfort-Tiefbox aus Gummi-Komponenten für die Milchkuh

POLSTA

The deep bedded cubicle cushion

  • Thickness: ca. 10 cm
  • 2-layer composition
  • Surface: air cushions

  • Lower side: blade profile
Read more
maxiBOX rubber mat system for deep bedded cubicles in the dairy barn

maxiBOX

For elevated deep bedded cubicles

  • Thickness: ca. 3 cm
  • 4-component system
  • Surface: U-shaped profiling

  • Lower side: air cushions
Read more