By Fayed, R. H., Veterinary Medical Journal Giza, 1997
Description
The effects of different housing systems on behavioural patterns and incidence of lameness were studied on 4 private dairy farms of 1800 cows in Giza and Kalubia governorates, Egypt, from April to August 1996. The cows were housed in cubicles with concrete floors or in a loose (yard) housing system with a dirty floor. The incidence of claw and leg lameness was significantly higher in cows kept in cubicles (8.66%) than in cows in loose housing (4.51%). Healthy cows in the loose housing system spent significantly more time lying down and less time standing than cows in cubicles, while lame cows in both housing systems spent more time lying down and less time standing than healthy cows. Cows kept loose ate more frequently but spent less time feeding than those kept in cubicles. The lame cows in both systems spent less time feeding than healthy cows. Gait and movements of the lame cows were significantly slower than those in normal cows. It is concluded that housing on concrete floors negatively affects claw health in dairy cows and contributes to the aetiology of lameness
The effects of different housing systems on behavioural patterns and incidence of lameness were studied on 4 private dairy farms of 1800 cows in Giza and Kalubia governorates, Egypt, from April to August 1996. The cows were housed in cubicles with concrete floors or in a loose (yard) housing system with a dirty floor. The incidence of claw and leg lameness was significantly higher in cows kept in cubicles (8.66%) than in cows in loose housing (4.51%). Healthy cows in the loose housing system spent significantly more time lying down and less time standing than cows in cubicles, while lame cows in both housing systems spent more time lying down and less time standing than healthy cows. Cows kept loose ate more frequently but spent less time feeding than those kept in cubicles. The lame cows in both systems spent less time feeding than healthy cows. Gait and movements of the lame cows were significantly slower than those in normal cows. It is concluded that housing on concrete floors negatively affects claw health in dairy cows and contributes to the aetiology of lameness
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