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Effect of housing conditions on performance and welfare of finishing beef cattle

Bernadette Earley, Mark McGee, Edward O’Riordan, Michael Keane

Research Impact Highlights

Industry impact: In Ireland, concrete slatted floors are the predominant cattle housing system. Current recommendations for the minimum space allowance for beef cattle of various sizes in concrete slatted-floored pens is 2.0m2 and 2.2m2 for 500kg and 600kg animals, respectively. There are calls to increase this and to replace concrete slats with an alternative. Two experiments were performed. In experiment 1 bulls were accommodated on concrete slats with or without rubber mats. In experiment 2 heifers were accommodated on concrete slats with space allowances of 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0m2 per head and straw at 6.0m2 per head. Experiment 1 demonstrated that replacing concrete slats with rubber mats improved the average daily gain of bulls but had no effect on carcass weight. Dirt scores were not affected by floor type. Hoof lesions increased on rubber mats. Experiment 2 showed no difference in carcass weight at the different space allowances or on the straw treatment. Heifers housed on straw had longer lying times and greater dirt scores. More generous space allowance to finishing cattle on concrete slats is not warranted, and rubber mats and straw as underfoot conditions did not enhance animal performance or welfare. 

Contribution of non-research stakeholders: Knowledge transfer specialists and advisers have facilitated the dissemination of this research. Kepak allowed access to animals and facilities at Kepak, Co. Meath for experiment 2. 

Other contributors and collaborators: Alan Kelly, UCD. 

Funding: Teagasc grant-in-aid.

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