1Animal and Bioscience Research Department,Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre,Teagasc,Grange,Dunsany, Co. Meath,IrelandC15 PW93.
3Livestock Systems Research Department,Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre,Teagasc,Grange,Dunsany, Co. Meath,IrelandC15 PW93.
Animal. 2017 Dec;11(12):2285-2294. doi: 10.1017/S1751731117001288. Epub 2017 Jun 21.
Accommodating cattle indoors during the winter is widely practiced throughout Europe. There is currently no legislation surrounding the space allowance and floor type that should be provided to cattle during this time, however, concerns have been raised regarding the type of housing systems currently in use. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of space allowance and floor type on performance and welfare of finishing beef heifers. Continental crossbred heifers (n=240: mean initial live; weight, 504 (SD 35.8) kg) were blocked by breed, weight and age and randomly assigned to one of four treatments; (i) 3.0 m2, (ii) 4.5 m2 and (iii) 6.0 m2 space allowance per animal on a fully slatted concrete floor and (iv) 6.0 m2 space allowance per animal on a straw-bedded floor, for 105 days. Heifers were offered a total mixed ration ad libitum. Dry matter intake was recorded on a pen basis and refusals were weighed back twice weekly. Heifers were weighed, dirt scored and blood sampled every 3 weeks. Whole blood was analysed for complete cell counts and serum samples were assayed for metabolite concentrations. Behaviour was recorded continuously using IR cameras from days 70 to 87. Heifers' hooves were inspected for lesions at the start of the study and again after slaughter. Post-slaughter, carcass weight, conformation and fat scores and hide weight were recorded. Heifers housed at 4.5 m2 had a greater average daily live weight gain (ADG) than those on both of the other concrete slat treatments; however, space allowance had no effect on carcass weight. Heifers accommodated on straw had a greater ADG (0.15 kg) (P<0.05), hide weight (P<0.01) better feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) and had greater dirt scores (P<0.05) at slaughter than heifers accommodated on concrete slats at 6.0 m2. The number of heifers lying at any one time was greater (P<0.001) on straw than on concrete slats. Space allowance and floor type had no effect on the number of hoof lesions gained or on any of the haematological or metabolic variables measured. It was concluded that increasing space allowance above 3.0 m2/animal on concrete slats was of no benefit to animal performance but it did improve animal cleanliness. Housing heifers on straw instead of concrete slats improved ADG and increased lying time; however carcass weight was not affected.
在欧洲，冬季将牛群安置在室内是一种广泛的做法。目前，针对牛群在这段时间内应提供的空间和地板类型还没有相关立法，但人们对当前使用的畜舍系统类型表示担忧。本研究的目的是调查空间分配和地板类型对育肥肉牛生长性能和福利的影响。采用完全漏缝混凝土地板的 3.0 m2、4.5 m2 和 6.0 m2/头和采用垫草地板的 6.0 m2/头 4 种处理方式，对 240 头（平均初始活重 504（SD 35.8）kg）杂交肉牛进行了分组试验，按品种、体重和年龄进行分组，随机分配到 4 个处理组之一，试验为期 105 天。牛群自由采食全混合日粮。每周两次称重并记录饲料剩料量。每 3 周称重、污垢评分和采血。用红外摄像机连续记录行为。研究开始时和屠宰后检查牛蹄有无病变。屠宰后，记录胴体重、体型和脂肪评分以及皮重。4.5 m2 组的平均日增重（ADG）高于其他两种混凝土漏缝地板处理组，但空间分配对胴体重没有影响。在垫草上饲养的牛 ADG（0.15 kg）更高（P<0.05），皮重（P<0.01）、饲料转化率（P<0.05）和屠宰时污垢评分（P<0.05）均优于 6.0 m2 混凝土漏缝地板组。任何时候躺在垫草上的牛数量都多于躺在混凝土漏缝地板上的牛（P<0.001）。空间分配和地板类型对获得的蹄病数量或测量的任何血液学或代谢变量均没有影响。结果表明，在混凝土漏缝地板上，每头牛的空间分配增加到 3.0 m2 以上对动物生长性能没有益处，但可以提高动物清洁度。用垫草代替混凝土漏缝地板饲养牛可提高 ADG 和增加躺卧时间；但对胴体重没有影响。
