Effect of Training Dairy Heifers to Use Cubicles before First Calving on Subsequent Behaviour and Hoof Health

Putting untrained heifers into cubicles after calving is not an uncommon management practice on many farms. Field experience suggests that untrained heifers take some time to become accustomed to using cubicles and so tend to lay down less when they first enter the main milking herd. It is postulated that this may contribute to subsequent lameness. This study investigated the effect of heifers experiencing cubicle housing or not during the winter before first calving on claw horn lesion development after calving and housing in the next year ...