Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gq7q9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T20:54:16.611Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Alternative housing systems for fattening bulls under Austrian conditions with special respect to rubberised slatted floors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

C Rouha-Muelleder ,
E Absmanner ,
E Kahrer ,
H Zeiner ,
T Scharl ,
F Leisch ,
C Stanek  and
J Troxler
C Rouha-Muelleder*
Affiliation:
Afritschweg 15/2, A-4030 Linz, Austria Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
E Absmanner
Affiliation:
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
E Kahrer
Affiliation:
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
H Zeiner
Affiliation:
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
T Scharl
Affiliation:
Department for Statistics and Probability Theory, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/1071, 1040 Vienna, Austria ACIB GmbH c/o Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
F Leisch
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ludwigstraße 33, 80539 Munich, Germany
C Stanek
Affiliation:
Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
J Troxler
Affiliation:
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: cornelia.muelleder@gmx.at
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Previous studies have noted significant welfare problems in cattle housed on fully slatted floors. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of alternative housing systems under on-farm conditions. Health, behavioural and farm data of fattening bulls were collected on seven Austrian farms between January 2006 and April 2007. The housing systems studied comprised fully slatted concrete floor pens (CS), fully slatted floor pens covered with rubber mats (RS), straw-bedded pens (ST) and a system combining straw-bedded pens (for bulls weighing < 450 kg) and fully slatted floor pens (for bulls weighing > 450 kg; SS). The numbers of scabs/wounds on the carpal joint and severe lesions/partial losses of the tail tip were significantly higher in CS and SS than in RS and ST. The claws of bulls in ST and RS showed clear signs of reduced abrasion, but this does not seem to have any negative impact on the corium. Behavioural alterations were observed mainly in CS and SS. The numbers of lying and short standing bouts were significantly higher in ST and RS than in CS; the mean duration of lying bouts was significantly lower. Mean duration of lying down and standing up was significantly lower in ST than in CS and SS. Bulls in ST had a significantly higher daily weight gain than bulls in all other systems. It is concluded that rubber mats improve the welfare of bulls housed on slatted floors. However, neither the RS nor the SS system reached the welfare potential of straw bedding provided throughout life.

Keywords

animal welfarefattening bullshealthhousing systemsresting behaviourrubber mats
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 113 - 126
Copyright
© 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bahrs, E 2005 Verhalten und gesundheitsstatuts von mastbullen auf gummispaltenboden. PhD Thesis, Tierärztlichen, Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximillian-University of Munich, Germany. [Title translation: Behaviour and state of health of beef cattle kept on perforated rubber mats]Google Scholar
Bennett, RM, Anderson, J and Blaney, RJP 2002 Moral intensity and willingness to pay concerning farm animal welfare issues and the implications for agricultural policy. Journal of Agricultural Ethics 15: 187–202CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eilers, U and Sekul, W 2006 Einfluss von elastischen Bodenoberflächen in Vollspaltenbuchten auf Tiergesundheit, Mastleistung und Klauenwachstum bei Mastbullen. Versuchsbericht Nr 2 2006 pp 29. LVVG Bildungs- und Wissenszentrum Aulendorf, Seiten. [Title translation: Influence of elastic surface in fully slatted floor pens on animal health, performance and claw growth in fattening bulls]Google Scholar
Faye, B and Barnouin, J 1987 Condition d'utilisation de différents types d’étables allaitantes. Dokumentation Observation Nr88051, Institut technique de l'elevage bovin. EDE Nievre, EDE Haute-Vienne. [Title translation: Requirements for the use of different housing types for dairy cows]Google Scholar
Friedli, K, Gygax, L, Wechsler, B and Schulze Westerath, H 2004 Gummierte betonspaltenböden für rindvieh-mastställe. FAT-Bericht 618: 1–8. [Title translation: Rubberised slatted floors used for the housing of fattening bulls]Google Scholar
Graf, B 1984 Inwieweit genügen laufstallsysteme den artspezifischen ansprüchen von mastrindern? Überprüfung anhand von merkmalen des ausruhverhaltens. Aktuelle Arbeiten zur artgemäßen Tierhaltung 1983. KTBL-Schrift 299: 9–13. [Title translation: How do loose housing systems fit the typical needs of fattening bulls? Examination on the basis of resting behaviour characteristics]Google Scholar
Gygax, L, Mayer, C, Schulze Westerath, H, Friedli, K and Wechsler, B 2007a On-farm assessment of the lying behaviour of finishing bulls kept in housing systems with different floor qualities. Animal Welfare 16: 205–208Google Scholar
Gygax, L, Siegwart, R and Wechsler, B 2007b Effects of space allowance on the behaviour and cleanliness of finishing bulls kept in pens with fully slatted rubber coated flooring. Applied Animal Behavioural Science 107: 1–12CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haley, DB, Rushen, J and de Passiille, AM 2000 Behavioural indicators of cow comfort, activity and resting behaviour of dairy cows in two types of housing. Canadian Journal Animal Science 80: 257–263CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herva, T, Virtala, A-M, Huuskonen, A, Saatkamp, HW and Peltoniemi, O 2009 On-farm welfare and estimated daily carcass gain of slaughtered bulls. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Animal Science 59(2): 104–120Google Scholar
Hickey, M, French, P and Grant, J 2002 Out-wintering pads for finishing beef cattle: animal production and welfare. Animal Science 75: 447–458CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koberg, J, Hofmann, W, Irps, H and Daenicke, R 1989 Rindergesundheit bei Betonspaltenbodenhaltung. Der praktische Tierarzt 1: 12–17. [Title translation: Health of cattle kept on fully slatted floors]Google Scholar
Koch, L and Irps, H 1985 Zum einfluss von bodenbeschaffenheit und klima bei der haltung von jungrindern. Landtechnik 40: 408–411. [Title translation: About the influence of the ground quality and the climate on the housing of young cattle]Google Scholar
Lowe, DE, Steen, RWJ and Beattie, VE 2001a Preferences of housed finishing beef cattle for different floor types. Animal Welfare 10: 395–404Google Scholar
Lowe, DE, Steen, RWJ, Beattie, VE and Moss, BW 2001b The effects of floor type systems on the performance, cleanliness, carcass composition and meat quality of housed finishing cattle. Livestock Production Science 69: 33–42CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Bateson, P 1993 Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mayer, C, Thio, T, Schulze Westerath, H, Ossent, P, Gygax, L, Wechsler, B and Friedli, K 2007 Vergleich von Betonspaltenböden, gummimodifizierten Spaltenböden und Buchten mit Einstreu in der Bullenmast unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Tiergerechtheit. Landbauforschung Völkenrode-FAL Agricultural Research, Sonderheft 303. Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, FAL, 42 Seiten. [Title translation: Comparison of slatted floors, rubberised slatted floors and straw-bedded pens in fattening bulls with special respect to animal welfare]Google Scholar
Ossent, P and Lischer, C 1997 Post mortem examination of the hooves of cattle, horses, pigs and small ruminants under practice conditions. In Practice 19: 21–29CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ossent, P and Lischer, C 1998 Bovine laminitis: the lesions and their pathogenesis. In Practice 20: 415–427CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Platz, S, Ahrens, F, Bahrs, E, Nüske, S and Erhard, MH 2007 Association between floor type and behaviour, skin lesions and claw dimensions in group-housed fattening bulls. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 80: 209–221CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
R Development Core Team 2010 R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.orgGoogle Scholar
Ruis-Heutnick, LFM, Smits, MCJ, Smits, AC and Heeres, JJ 2000 Effect of floor type and floor area on behaviour and carpal joint lesions in beef bulls. In: Blokhuis HJ, Ekkel ED and Wechsler B (eds) Improving Health and Welfare in Animal Production. EAAP Publication No 102 pp 29–36. Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Schrader, L, Roth, HR, Winterling, C, Brodmann, N, Langhans, W, Geyer, H and Graf, B 2001 The occurrence of tail tip alterations in fattening bulls kept under different husbandry conditions. Animal Welfare 10: 119–130Google Scholar
Schulze Westerath, H, Gygax, L, Mayer, C and Wechsler, B 2007 Leg lesions and cleanliness of finishing bulls kept in housing systems with different lying area surfaces. Veterinary Journal 174: 77–85CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seng, PM and Laporte, R 2005 Animal welfare: the role perspectives of the meat and livestock sector. Revue-Scientifique-et-Technique-Office-International-des-Epizooties 24: 613–623CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stanek, C, Karall, P and Frick, JJ 2007 Entwicklung des klauen-zustandes bei maststieren unter zwei definierten haltungs- und fütterungsbedingungen. Tierärztliche Praxis Großtiere 35: 13–18. [Title translation: Changes of the claw condition of fattening bulls in two well-defined housing and feeding systems]Google Scholar
Thio, T, Friedli, K, Mayer, C and Ossent, P 2005 Einfluss von gummimodifizierten spaltenböden auf die klauengesundheit von mastbullen. Tierärztliche Praxis 33: 77–84. [Title translation: Influence of rubber modified slatted floors on the claw health of fattening bulls]Google Scholar
Wechsler, B, Schaub, J, Friedli, K and Hauser, R 2000 Behaviour and leg injuries in dairy cows kept in cubicle systems with straw bedding or soft lying mats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 69: 189–197CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zerbe, F, Niemann, G and Scheithauer, E 2008 Fattening bulls: alternative housing on slatted floors. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenzeitschrift 115(3): 118–122Google ScholarPubMed