Der Einfluss elastischer Gummimatten im Melkstand auf die Klauenmaße von Milchkühen

Abstract

Hoof diseases and disorders are a big animal welfare problem in dairy herds and one of the most common cause of losses on German dairy cattle farms. Any deviation from the correct claw shape may lead to unphysiological loading and as a consequence of this to hoof diseases. The present study compares the claw shape of German Simmental Cows in a stable before and after the installation of elastic rubber mats in a steep herringbone parlour. In the beginning there existed an abrasive soil and the height of the bulb was too low in 87 % of cows. Four months after the installation of the mats, 77 % of the cows had bulb heights within the reference range. No differences between claw measurements were found depending on milk yield and number of lactation. The results of this study indicated that the flooring surface in a milking parlour had a significant influence on claw shape.