A comparison of different stall base for dairy cattle in freetall barns

ABSTRACTMSc THESISA COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT STALL BASE FOR DAIRY CATTLE INFREESTALL BARNSBedriye DEMİRCİDEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL.INSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCESUNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVASupervisor : Prof. Dr. Kemal ÖZKÜTÜKYear: 2005, Pages: 79Jury : Prof.Dr. Kemal ÖZKÜTÜKProf.Dr. Taner ALAGÖZAssoc.Prof. Serap GÖNCÜ KARAKÖKBedding material and freestall base type is important for cow comfort. In this investigationeight different bedding materials and base type, each with five replicates used at forty freestall barn.The eight different bedding materials were; two types of mats, two types of mattresses, sand, sawdust,wheat hay and concrete floor surfaces as it is present in the barn. The investigation consisted of fourparts. In the first part of the investigation forty cows, forty freestall barn and the investigation reparedonce more. In the second part of the investigation only twenty cows were kept at forty freestall barn.At the last part of the investigation forty cows at forty freestall but wheat hay was laid on the stallsurfaces without moving the bedding material present at the stalls.Observations were made on, preference of the bedding material; dirtiness, hock and kneelesions, lameness, standing and walking behavior scored. Also the milk yields during investigationwere recorded.According to the results, the scores about each observed criteria, improved as the timeprogressed. The most preferred bedding material by cows at first, second, third and forth part of theinvestigation were second type mattress(%3), wheat hay(%4), first type mat(%6) and first typemattress(%4) respectively. Cows preferred to rest mainly at the open area (pen) of the barn. The mainreasons for this behavior were concluded as; 1)open the area (pen) gets more air moment then insideof the barn. 2)freestall dimensions are not properly designed. 3)The last conclusion is the cows wereused to rest outside the barn. The farm management used to lay wheat hay to the pen.KeyWords: Bedding Material, Lying Down, Locomotion, Dairy Cattle.II