27-Title: Influence of modified floor on productive and physiological performance of Sahiwal Zebu cows
Authors: MI Syed, SS Lathwal, Pawan Singh, Ramesh Chandra and DM Golher
Source: Ruminant Science (2023)-12(2):325-327.

Abstract

How to cite this manuscript: Syed MI, Lathwal SS, Singh Pawan, Chandra Ramesh and Golher DM (2023). Influence of modified floor on productive and physiological performance of Sahiwal Zebu cows. Ruminant Science 12(2):325-327.
Abstract
To observe the effect of rubber mat flooring on productive and physiological responses during winter; sixteen lactating Sahiwal Zebu cows were selected from a herd of ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, Haryana, India. Cows were divided into two groups of 8 cows each i.e. control and treatment sheds having two different floor systems viz. concrete and rubber mat respectively. Mean rectal temperature was found to be lower (P<0.05) in cows kept on concrete floor (101.23oF) as compared to the cows kept on rubber mats (101.32oF). Rubber mat helps to insulate cows exposed to winter weather. However, dry Matter Intake, overall daily milk yield and mean plasma cortisol concentration of control and treatment groups did not differ significantly. Present investigation concluded that using rubber mat flooring helps in reducing cold stress to some extent and may have a synergistic effect if combined with other ameliorative measures to combat cold stress in dairy animals. References Arora R, Goswami SC and Maan R (2021). Study on the effect of improved shelter management practices on the physiological parameters of Sahiwal cattle in arid region of Rajasthan. Ruminant Science 10(1):89-92. Arora Rajni, Goswami SC and Gujar Gayatri (2023). Association of shelter modifications on the milk quality parameters of Sahiwal cows reared in the hot-arid ambience of Rajasthan. Ruminant Science 12(1):179-184. Curley Jr KO, Neuendorff DA, Lewis AW, Cleere JJ, Welsh Jr TH and Randel RD (2008). Functional characteristics of the bovine hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis vary with temperament. Hormones and Behavior 53(1):20-27. Herskin MS, Munksgaard L and Andersen JB (2007). Effects of social isolation and restraint on adrenocortical responses and hypoalgesia in loose-housed dairy cows 1. Journal of Animal Science 85(1):240-247. Kalambe YM, Siddiqui MBA, Kharwadkar MD and Yeotikar PV (2023). Effect of rearing of Osmanabadi kids on varying animal density on their performance. Ruminant Science 12(1):127-130. Kashyap K, Pathak R, Santra AK, Mishra OP, Singh N, Parmar MS, Doneria R and Kasyap S (2022). Ameliorating effect of bedding material on growth parameters of osmanabadi goat kids. Ruminant Science 11(2):403-408. Kremer PV, Nueske S, Scholz AM and Foerster M (2007). Comparison of claw health and milk yield in dairy cows on elastic or concrete flooring. Journal of Dairy Science 90(10):4603-4611. Madke PK, Lathwal SS, Yajuvendra S, Anil K and Vinay K (2010). Study of behavioural and physiological changes of crossbred cows under different shelter management practices. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 80(8):771-774. Maule JP (1990). The cattle of the Tropics. University of Edinburgh. Center for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh. Mohan K, Goswami SC, Jhirwal AK, Kumar V, Singh V, Choudhary P, Manohar DS and Meel S (2018). Housing and milking management practices followed by rathi cattle owners for conservation of Rathi cattle in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Ruminant Science 7(1):113-116. Pempek J and Botheras N (2009). Effect of rubber flooring in a free-stall dairy barn on cow behavior and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 92. Reddy SA and Padmavathi M (2016). The growth and development of dairy industry in India. International Journal of Scientific Research 5(6):246-249. Sahu D, Mandal DK, Champak B, Chatterjee A, Mandal A and Mandal M (2018). Effect of roof ceiling and flooring on the microclimate of shed and physiological indices of crossbred Jersey cows. International Journal of Animal Research 8(4):272-280. Smit AC and Dammen PJ (1992). Rubber is more comfortable land. Bouwmechanisatie 43(8):38-41. Thakur Chakresh, Shahi Apra, Singh Randhir and Swamy Madhu (2018). Incidence and characterization of hoof affections in goats. Ruminant Science 7(2):319-324. Tucker CB, Rogers AR, Verkerk GA, Kendall PE, Webster JR and Matthews LR (2007). Effects of shelter and body condition on the behaviour and physiology of dairy cattle in winter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105(1-3):1-13. Upadhyay D, Singh M, Patel BHM, Gaur GK, Verma MR, Bharti P and Madkar A (2015). Association of flooring materials with milk yield and its composition in crossbred cows. Journal of Animal Research 5(1):75-79. Vandana, Singh Mukesh, Kumar Brijesh, Gaur GK, Verma Med Ram and Dutt Triveni (2021). Effect of floor enrichment of calving pen with rubber mattress on the preparturient behaviour of Vrindavani cow. Ruminant Science 10(2):399-403.