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)

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

Development of backfat thickness

• 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!

• heat 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) »