Vanegas J, Overton M, Berry S L, Sischo W M
University of California Davis, Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Tulare 93274, USA.
J Dairy Sci. 2006 Nov;89(11):4251-8. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72471-7.
Multiparous dairy cows between 10 to 30 d in milk (DIM) were enrolled in a clinical trial to evaluate the effects of rubber flooring on the development of claw lesions, locomotion scores, clinical lameness, and rates of hoof growth and wear. Two groups of cows were housed in identical free-stall facilities, except that 1 pen (rubber, n = 84) had rubber alley mats covering the entire concrete floor of the pen, whereas cows in the second pen were exposed to concrete flooring (concrete, n = 82) without rubber alley mats. All cows were evaluated 3 times between 10 and 30, 74 and 94, and 110 and 130 DIM for 1) the presence of claw lesions on their rear feet, 2) the occurrence of clinical lameness based on a locomotion score, and 3) rates of claw growth and wear as observed on the dorsal wall of the right lateral claw. No differences between flooring groups at the time of enrollment were detected for lactation number, mean DIM at first examination, body condition score, and proportion of cows with claw lesions at the first examination. Odds of developing claw lesions between examinations were not different for cows exposed to the rubber surface compared with those exposed to concrete. Cows on concrete, however, had greater odds of developing or exacerbating existing heel erosion than cows on rubber flooring. Regardless of the flooring surface, the lateral claw was more likely to develop lesions than the medial claw. Odds of becoming lame by the third examination and the proportion of cows requiring therapeutic hoof trimming because of lameness were greater for concrete-exposed cows than those on rubber. Cows on rubber flooring had decreased claw growth and wear between the first and last examination compared with cows on concrete. Regardless of flooring surface, second-lactation cows had greater wear rates than those in third or greater parities. Results of our study suggest that a soft flooring surface, such as interlocking rubber, is beneficial for hoof health.
处于泌乳10至30天（DIM）的经产奶牛被纳入一项临床试验，以评估橡胶地板对蹄部病变发展、运动评分、临床跛足以及蹄生长和磨损率的影响。两组奶牛被安置在相同的散栏设施中，不同的是，一个栏舍（橡胶组，n = 84）的整个混凝土地面覆盖有橡胶通道垫，而第二个栏舍中的奶牛暴露于没有橡胶通道垫的混凝土地面（混凝土组，n = 82）。在泌乳10至30天、74至94天以及110至130天期间，对所有奶牛进行了3次评估，评估内容包括：1）其后蹄的蹄部病变情况；2）基于运动评分的临床跛足发生率；3）右侧外侧蹄背壁观察到的蹄生长和磨损率。在入组时，两组奶牛在胎次、首次检查时的平均泌乳天数、体况评分以及首次检查时患有蹄部病变的奶牛比例方面均未检测到差异。与暴露于混凝土表面的奶牛相比，暴露于橡胶表面的奶牛在两次检查之间发生蹄部病变的几率没有差异。然而，与橡胶地板上的奶牛相比，混凝土地板上的奶牛发生或加重现有蹄跟糜烂的几率更高。无论地板表面如何，外侧蹄比内侧蹄更易发生病变。到第三次检查时，暴露于混凝土的奶牛跛足的几率以及因跛足需要进行治疗性蹄修剪的奶牛比例均高于橡胶地板上的奶牛。与混凝土地板上的奶牛相比，橡胶地板上的奶牛在第一次和最后一次检查之间蹄生长和磨损减少。无论地板表面如何，第二胎奶牛的磨损率高于第三胎或更高胎次的奶牛。我们的研究结果表明，柔软的地板表面，如互锁橡胶，有利于蹄部健康。
