combination cubicle coverings have recently come onto the market that attempt to combine the advantages of low and high cubicles. One of these combination systems is the maxiBox® from Kraiburg . Individual comparative studies carried out in Germany to date have provided initial results on the new combination cubicle systems. However, various influencing factors have not yet been fully clarified. Recently, automatic recording methods have also been increasingly used in herd management system Smartbow® from MKW offers the possibility of animal location in real time . The aim of a research project at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein was therefore to carry out a comprehensive comparison between the conventional straw-manure mattress and the combined deep box variant with a rubber base (maxiBox®) with regard to the lying behavior of the animals, straw requirement, working time requirement and mattress condition and in the course of this also a To validate the animal location of the Animal Positioning System. The investigations were carried out in the cattle research barn of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein with 63 dairy cows in two test runs. After an acclimatization period of one month, it was found that the straw-manure mattresses were used for lying on an average of 45.1% of the observation day and the maxiBoxes were used for lying down on 17.5% of the observation day. After an acclimatization period of one year, the values were 34.0% and 20.9%, respectively. The animal positioning system provided comparable results to the video observations about the length of time the animals stayed in the cubicles. The combined deep box variant had advantages in terms of straw consumption and working time requirements. The management of every cubicle system is of crucial importance.
News from the testing center - results of testing the POLSTA deep box cushion
The Austrian Animal Welfare Act requires mandatory testing of all new products before they are placed on the market for the first time in Austria. Proof is deemed to have been provided if this is confirmed by a report from the Department for Animal Welfare and Animal Welfare. The implementation of practical tests by a testing center is intended to provide the specialist body with missing information for the assessment. The HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein testing center for animal-friendly animal husbandry and animal welfare approved by the Federal Ministry of Health . In 2018, the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein was commissioned to carry out a test of the POLSTA deep box cushion from Kraiburg . This was done by rating cattle for the occurrence of technopathies. A comprehensive test report was submitted in autumn 2018. From the investigations carried out, it could be concluded that keeping cattle on properly installed and used POLSTA deep box cushions is not expected to have a negative impact on joint health The condition of the joints most affected by the POLSTA deep box cushion, the carpal joints, has significantly improved in the present assessments when using the POLSTA deep box cushion. The POLSTA deep box cushion received a positive report from the Department for Animal Welfare and Animal Welfare and was issued with the animal welfare label.
