On-farm assessment of the lying behaviour of finishing bulls kept in housing systems with different floor qualities (2007)

Gygax, L., Mayer, C., Schulze Westerath, H. et al.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of floor quality (straw-bedding lying area, rubber-coated slats, concrete slats) on the lying behaviour of finishing bulls. Rubber-coated slats improve traction on the ground but are not able to provide as soft a lying area as straw bedding. Rubber coating can thus serve to improve welfare for finishing bulls kept on concrete slats but cannot be considered equivalent to straw bedding.