Preferences of Freestall Housed Dairy Cows to Different Bedding Materials

The purpose of this study was to examine the behaviour of dairy cows during the rest periods and their preferences to different bedding materials with limited amount of straw as well as the hygienic score of dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein dairy cows at the first to fourth lactation with live weight 610±58 kg and milk yield of 7364±1202 liter for 305 days of lactation were used for the experiment. Three types of bedding materials were used for the preference test - rubber mats, manure-straw bedding and sand. The hygienic score of the animal's body was made by 4 point system. The average values of the studied functional activity (FA) were determined by using a mathematical model adapted for this purpose. The installed soft rubber mats on concrete floor mitigated the adverse effects on animal behaviour at rest. The lying time (iFA-0.4133) on the rubber mats and the number of lying down (21.2) during the day showed that rubber mats are more comfortable for cows than manure-straw bedding and sand. When using a small amount of straw bedding, the cows preferred to lie longer on soft rubber mats. The hygienic score of the body of dairy cows was between 1.40 and 2.94, and depended on floor bedding and the regular cleaning of the stall.