Effects of Sand and Straw Bedding on the Lying Behavior, Cleanliness, and Hoof and Hock Injuries of Dairy Cows

Abstract

This experiment compared the effects of sand and straw bedding in free stalls on resting time, cleanliness, hock injuries, and hoof health of dairy cows and tested whether cow preferences for a bedding material depended on the familiarity with the material. A total of 52 dairy cows were kept either on straw bedded concrete stalls or sand stalls for at least 21 wk. The lying behavior was observed, and hock lesions, hoof health, and cleanliness of the cows and stalls were measured. A 5-d preference test between sand and straw stalls was conducted at the end of the experiment. The total daily duration of lying was longer for cows on straw bedding than on sand bedding (straw 749 +/- 16 vs. sand 678 +/- 19 min). During the preference test, cows that had been kept on straw bedding preferred lying in straw stalls [straw 218.7 (133.4 to 239.7) vs. sand 9.0 min (2.8 to 44.8)]; however, cows that had been kept on sand showed no preference [straw 101.3 (51.7 to 205.9) vs. sand 94.3 min (54.1 to 156.1, median and interquartile range)]. Although there were no differences in the dirtiness of stalls, the cows using straw stalls were dirtier than cows using sand stalls [straw 6.04 (5.39 to 6.28) vs. sand 4.19 (3.62 to 5.16)]. At the end of experiment the severity of hock lesions was lower for cows on sand than for cows on straw [sand 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) vs. straw 1.0 (1.0 to 2.0)]. The improvement in overall hoof health over the observation period was greater for cows kept on sand compared with cows kept on straw [sand -2.00 (-3.75 to -0.25) vs. straw 0.00 (-2.00 to 2.00)]. Straw bedding increased the time that cows spend lying, and cows preferred straw stalls to sand stalls. However, previous experience with sand reduces avoidance of sand stalls. Sand stalls were advantageous for cow cleanliness and health; hock lesions and claw diseases healed more quickly for cows using sand stalls compared with straw.

Identifying risk factors for poor hind limb cleanliness in Danish loose-housed dairy cows

“…The association of shorter daily lying time with the risk of having dirtier hind limbs is expectable as the legs would be more exposed to slurry in the alleys than in the lying area. Reduction in mean daily lying times has been observed with increased stocking density (Fregonesi et al, 2007) with different aspects of cubicle design such as decreasing the curb -neck-rail distance (Tucker et al, 2005) and sand bedding compared with straw bedding (Norring et al, 2008), as well as during periods of heat stress (Cook et al, 2007). The data from this study do not allow us to evaluate the specific reason for a reduced lying time, but it may indicate that improved leg cleanliness is yet another argument for the farmer to focus on the quality and management of the lying area.…”

Dairy calves’ preference for rearing substrate

“…Lying behaviour has been used as an indicator of dairy cow comfort (Haley, de Passillé, & Rushen, 2001;Norring, Manninen, de Passillé, Rushen, Munksgaard, & Saloniemi, 2008;Tucker et al, 2009) and can be a useful indicator of dairy calf comfort in relation to different rearing substrates and how calves perceive them. Sufficient resting and sleeping time is important for young animals (Bonk et al, 2013), 2 wk old calves will typically spend about 17-18 h/d lying down (Panivivat et al, 2004).…”

Investigating integument alterations in cubicle housed dairy cows: which types and locations can be combined?

“…Rodenburg et al, 1994;Lombard et al, 2010;Potterton et al, 2011a and2011b) and some additionally on the carpal joint (e.g. Spycher et al, 2002;Fulwider et al, 2007;Norring et al, 2008). Some recent studies also looked at prevalences and possible influencing factors at the neck (Kielland et al, 2010;Zaffino Heyerhoff et al, 2014), the hip bone region and hind leg apart from hock and knee (Rouha-Mülleder et al, 2010), as well as the hips, knees, fetlocks and thighs (Kielland et al, 2009).…”