Facts:
The project is funded by: Stiftelsen Lantbruksforskning
Duration of the project: 2019-2021
Project Leader: Evgenij Telezhenko
Other contributors: Ann Nyman, Christer Bergsten, Helena Hansson
Validation of function and economy for alternative flooring solutions in cattle barns
Last changed: 25 October 2023
We aim to continue an ongoing study to increase knowledge of cattle locomotion on different floors, how they work in practice and what the long term consequences are for welfare and for farmers´ economy.
For that purpose advanced biomechanical methods will be used to assess dairy cows´ manoeuvrability and slipping experimentally. The best adaptable and informative variables from the locomotion laboratory will then be used to evaluate possible flooring solutions to reduce slipperiness in practice on dairy farms. By epidemiological methods and data from Swedish milk recording scheme, the long term effects of different flooring improvements on welfare, health, fertility and longevity will be assessed retrospectively. Finally, the economy of improved flooring solutions will be evaluated and be the base for the judgement of which is the optimal flooring solutions for newly constructed as well as for improvements in older cattle houses with both animal welfare and farmers´ economy in mind.