Bedding on geotextile mattresses: how much is needed to improve cow comfort?

Journal of Dairy Science
C B Tucker, D M Weary

Abstract

The objective of our study was to evaluate how the amount of sawdust bedding on mattresses affects dairy cattle behavior and preferences. Eleven nonlactating, multiparous cows were housed individually in pens with access to 3 free stalls. Each stall was fitted with a geotextile mattress covered with either 0, 1, or 7.5 kg of kiln-dried sawdust. The experiment began with 7 d of acclimatization to all 3 stalls. Cows were then allowed access to only 1 of the 3 stalls at a time, each for 3 d (restriction phase). At the end of this restriction phase, cows were allowed free access to all 3 stalls for 3 d (free-choice phase). Time spent lying and the number of lying bouts increased significantly with the amount of bedding, from 12.3 +/- 0.53 h lying and 8.5 +/- 0.62 bouts per 24 h on bare mattresses to 13.8 +/- 0.53 h lying and 10.0 +/- 0.62 bouts per 24 h on mattresses with 7.5 kg of sawdust. In addition, the animals spent less time standing with only the front hooves in the stalls when more sawdust was present. When allowed free access to all 3 options, all 11 animals spent a majority of their time lying and standing in the 7.5-kg option. In conclusion, cows preferred mattresses bedded with 7.5 kg of sawdust, on which they spent mor...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Apr 20, 2017·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Christa A RicePeter D Krawczel
Apr 6, 2017·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice·Marcia I Endres
Dec 17, 2014·Journal of Dairy Science·C C AbadeD M Weary
Dec 23, 2016·Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences·Akira YajimaShuhei Kanda
Sep 22, 2010·Journal of Dairy Science·J E LombardD M Weary
Jun 15, 2006·Journal of Dairy Science·C B TuckerD M Weary
Jan 12, 2010·Journal of Dairy Science·M NorringH Saloniemi
Mar 24, 2011·Journal of Dairy Science·M A G von KeyserlingkD M Weary
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Dec 24, 2013·Journal of Dairy Science·M CamplerM A G von Keyserlingk
Jul 27, 2010·Journal of Dairy Science·K ItoD M Weary
May 19, 2009·Journal of Dairy Science·C B TuckerK A Beauchemin
Feb 4, 2014·Journal of Dairy Science·K ItoM A G von Keyserlingk
Jun 22, 2007·Journal of Dairy Science·J A FregonesiD M Weary
Jun 16, 2005·Journal of Dairy Science·M DrisslerD M Weary
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Mar 27, 2010·Journal of Dairy Science·L J ReichM A G von Keyserlingk
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Nov 2, 2015·Journal of Dairy Science·Peter Løvendahl, Lene Munksgaard
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Jul 1, 2020·Journal of Dairy Science·Patrícia Ferreira Ponciano FerrazGiuseppe Rossi
Oct 19, 2005·Journal of Dairy Science·N B CookK V Nordlund

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