Author ArchivesFrancis Couture

PennState Extension published an article stating that lame cows can be present in all types of dairy operations and can lead to a decrease in milk production, decreased reproductive performance, and an economic loss for the producer. By implementing lameness prevention strategies, the incidence and severity of lameness and the economic loss associated with lameness in dairy cattle can be reduced. Full study Industry Knowledge

The Agriculture Research Institute published a review addressing the economic benefits of improved cow comfort. They noted that the dairy cow appears to have a strong behavioral need for adequate rest. Dairy cattle are highly motivated to lie down for approximately 12 hours per day. Cows with restricted lying time have greater serum cortisol and lower growth hormone concentrations, impaired hoof health and locomotion and sometimes lower milk yield. For every additional hour of resting time a cow achieves, there is a milk response of approximately 3.7 pounds. Cows will sacrifice feeding in an effort to recoup lost resting time. A clean, dry and comfortable resting place is associated with greater resting time, better health and improved productivity. Softer stalls ...

The University of Alberta Department of Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science published a study that showed lameness is one of the most serious ailments facing dairy cows, and inappropriate flooring has been implicated as a cause. Use of concrete flooring has been associated with increased hoof problems. Increasing both the softness and the degree of surface friction of the floor improves cow mobility and reduces the risk of injury from falls. Softer flooring in front of feed bunks can increase the time cattle spend close to the feeder and may increase feed intake. The study compared un-grooved concrete flooring with Animat’s softer rubber flooring options which has a rough surface providing good friction. When walking on Animat, the cows walked ...

Researchers from Purdue University recently evaluated whether rubber flooring in the feed lanes of freestall barns could improve production, hoof health, and locomotion. Thirty Holstein heifers were selected for the study. After calving, heifers were assigned to either concrete or rubber flooring in the feed lane area for their entire lactation. Cows housed with rubber  flooring on the feed lane produced more milk fat and milk protein, as well as had a higher milk protein percentage. 50% of the cows housed on concrete were diagnosed with some type of hoof ailment (digital dermatitis, foot rot, abscess, sole ulcer, or sole separation), while only 22% of the cows housed with the rubber feed lane had an ailment. First lactation cows on ...