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

Soft walking areas: metabolism and immune system

Research by the veterinary faculty in Munich:1)

over a period of 18 months 3840 backfat thickness measurements compared:

  • 41 cows kept on concrete slats to
  • 41 cows kept on rubber covered slatted floors (pediKURA S system)

Info

The development of backfat thickness indicates the condition of the animals (positive / negative energy balance during lactation)

Development of backfat thickness

development of backfat thickness of dairy cows

  • Rubber:

backfat decreases until about 140 days after calving, then increases again

cows retain their initial condition by the next calving

  • Concrete:

backfat decreases until about 140 days after calving, too, but rebuilding fat reserves is significantly slower

cows do NOT retain their initial condition by the next calving

Results:

  • on rubber:
    • 29 days less from calving-to-insemination

    • 37 days less from calving-to-conception

= about 1 month shorter calving interval!

  • mounting on KRAIBURG rubber flooring - cows feel safeheat detection rate:
    • concrete: 55 %

    • rubber: 75.6 %

= about a 20 % higher heat detection rate on rubber!

A 2013 study in the US provided comparable results2)

It could be proven when keeping on rubber:
  • more milk fat and milk protein

  • fewer claw treatments → improved locomotion score

  • fewer indications of inflammation in the blood (e.g. fewer leucocytes)

Sources:

1) Werny R.: „Einfluss elastischer Spaltenbodenauflagen im Boxenlaufstall auf die Fruchtbarkeit und Energiebilanz laktierender Kühe”, 2014

2) Eicher S. D.: „Effects of rubber floorings during the first 2 lactations on production, locomotion, hoof health, immune functions, and stress”, 2013

download article (PDF, 110 kB) »