An evaluation of mattresses and mats in two dairy units

In order to investigate the relative merits of mats and mattresses in terms of cow comfort, production and performance, 29 cows were housed on ethylet hene vinyl acetate (EVA) mats and 29 on mattresses of loose rubber crumb wi th a polypropylene cover, at each of two similar dairy units (SAC Auchincru ive and Myerscough). Both mats and mattresses were newly installed at the s tart of the trial. The cows were housed in the autumn after calving. Milk y ield was recorded daily. Cows were weighed and scored for body condition, l ocomotion, dirtiness and hock and knee injury at fortnightly intervals. Fee d offered was recorded daily and refusals were weighed weekly. Monthly milk records of milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell count data were a vailable for both herds. In addition, 24 h behavioural observations of 15 c ore cows in each group were made at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, and 32 post-ho using. There was no difference between cows on mats and mattresses in milk yield, composition or quality; in feed intake; in weight loss or body condi tion score; in severe hock or knee injury, or in the incidence of lameness. Cows on mattresses tended to have slightly higher total dirtiness scores t han those on mats (7.06 vs. 6.95, P = 0.074) and had dirtier udders (mattre ss, 7.50 vs, mat, 6.52, P < 0.05). However, over the whole housing period, cows on mattresses spent longer feeding, ruminating and lying and a greater proportion of their lying time was spent ruminating. They spent less time standing doing nothing (idling) than cows on mats and less time idling in c ubicles. Cows on mattresses appeared to adapt to housing more quickly than those on mats. Overall, neither mat nor mattress gave advantages in terms o f production or performance, cows were slightly cleaner on mats but behavio ural indices suggest that cow comfort was greater on mattresses. (C) 2000 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.