Flooring on Alberta dairy farms: The influence of type of flooring on gait score of dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pen flooring-type in front of the feed-bunk, the slipperiness and the flooring-type in the holding pen on gait of Alberta free-stall housed dairy cattle. Fifty-one dairy farms with at least 70 Holstein milking cows and no access to pasture were selected from a list provided by the hoof trimmers from the Alberta Hoof Health Project. On these farms slipperiness and flooring type in the feeding alley and in the holding pen was recorded. Forty focal cows were gait scored (limping, head bob, asymmetric steps and tracking-up). In order to calculate odds ratios, farms were divided in groups: Farms with < 15% of lame cows and farms with ≥ 15% lame cows. Farms with < 25% asymmetric cows and farms with ≥ 25% asymmetric cows. Farms with <60% under-tracking cows and farms with ≥ 60% under-tracking cows. Because of the small number of farms with other flooring than grooved concrete in the feeding area of the pen and in the holding pen, odds ratios could not be calculated. Slipperiness did not have a significant effect on gait of dairy cows.