Effect of Different Flooring Systems on Biomechanical Properties of Claw Sole in Swedish Holsteins

Because of the contrast between natural terrain of grazed and artificial flooring for housed cattle, it is not surprising that dairy lameness is less common on pasture than in cubicles (Boelling & Pollott, 1998) or even in tie stalls (Bergsten & Herlin, 1996; Cook, 2003). Therefore the effect of different flooring systems on biomechanical parameters of the claw should be scrutinized to provide information about the most favourable floorings.

Materials and methods
Biomechanics of the claw sole was studied in seventy seven cows housed in different flooring systems at the research farm of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The flooring systems and number of cows tested from each system were: solid, acid resistant, mastic asphalt (N=16); solid, acid resistant, mastic asphalt with feed-stalls equipped with ...