Does floor surface affect locomotion behaviour of crossbred cows under loose housing system?

DEEPAK UPADHYAY; MUKESH SINGH; G K GAUR; B H M PATEL; M R VERMA; P K BHARTI; TRIVENI DUTT

doi:10.56093/ijans.v87i2.67696

Authors

DEEPAK UPADHYAY ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
MUKESH SINGH ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
G K GAUR ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
B H M PATEL ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
M R VERMA ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
P K BHARTI ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India
TRIVENI DUTT ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v87i2.67696

Keywords:

Behaviour, Floor, Lameness, Rubber mat, Sand bed, Walking speed

Abstract

Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of floor surface on lameness score and walking speed of crossbred cows under loose housing system. Crossbred cows (24) were selected and randomly assigned into one of the four groups (6 in each group) having different combination of flooring surface viz. T₀-Concrete floor (in covered feeding area) + Brick paved (in open area), T₁-Concrete (in covered feeding area) + Sand bed (in open area), T₂- Rubber mat (in covered feeding area) + Sand bed (in open area) and T₃- Rubber mat (in covered feeding area) + Brick paved (in open area). All experimental animals were scored for lameness using â€œVisual Lameness Scoringâ€ (VLS) system on 1-5 scale. Walking speed of cows was also observed during experimental period. Lameness scores were significantly different between the groups. Lameness score were greater for cow housed in T₃ and T₀ group. However, lameness score were lower in cows housed in T₁ and T₂ group. Walking speed differed significantly between treatments and was greater in T₂ and T₁ than T₃ and T₀. Cow housed in T₀ and T₃ group walked slower compared to T₁ and T₂ group. Further, proportionally greater numbers of cows with higher lameness score were found in T₀ and T₃ group. It can be concluded that equipping open area with sand bed with either concrete or rubber mat in covered area improved animal welfare in term of decreasing lameness. While providing rubber mat alone with brick was comparable to concrete and brick.

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