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The behaviour of cows in response to rubber mats in milking parlour stalls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

R Gudaj
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
N Blackie
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
E Bleach
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
J R Scaife
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
J Amory*
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
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Extract

High-yielding dairy cows are at risk of injuries causing lameness due to the hard, abrasive nature or slipperiness of the usual concrete floor surface (Cook et al., 2004). These problems can be exacerbated by the milking procedure that includes crowding of cows and possible sharp turns at the entrance and exit of the parlour. Rubber mats on walkways have been shown to reduce injury (Rushen and Passillé, 2006) and are preferred by cows to a concrete or slatted surface (Telezhenko et al., 2007). A recent installation of rubber matting in the milking stalls of a 15 cows per side (30-30) rapid exit parlour provided an opportunity to observe potential effects on cow behaviour. The mats were introduced to one side at a time and then to both sides and the aim was to determine whether the rubber matting had any significant effects on social interaction immediately prior to entering the milking stalls and the time taken for 15 cows to take their places.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Cook, N.B., Nordlund, K.V. and Oetzel, G.R: 2004. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(E. Suppl), 36–E46.Google Scholar
Rushen, J. and de Passillé, A. M. B. 2006. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 2965–2972.Google Scholar
Telezhenko, E., Lidfors, L. and Bergsten, C. 2007. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 3716–3724.Google Scholar