Does floor surface affect locomotion behaviour of crossbred cows under loose housing system?

Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of floor surface on lameness score and walking speed of crossbred cows under loose housing system. Crossbred cows (24) were selected and randomly assigned into one of the four groups (6 in each group) having different combination of flooring surface viz. T-0-Concrete floor (in covered feeding area) + Brick paved (in open area), T-1-Concrete (in covered feeding area) + Sand bed (in open area), T-2- Rubber mat (in covered feeding area) + Sand bed (in open area) and T-3- Rubber mat (in covered feeding area) + Brick paved (in open area). All experimental animals were scored for lameness using "Visual Lameness Scoring" (VLS) system on 1-5 scale. Walking speed of cows was also observed during experimental period. Lameness scores were significantly different between the groups. Lameness score were greater for cow housed in T-3 and T-0 group. However, lameness score were lower in cows housed in T-1 and T-2 group. Walking speed differed significantly between treatments and was greater in T-2 and T-1 than T-3 and T-0. Cow housed in T-0 and T-3 group walked slower compared to T-1 and T-2 group. Further, proportionally greater numbers of cows with higher lameness score were found in T-0 and T-3 group. It can be concluded that equipping open area with sand bed with either concrete or rubber mat in covered area improved animal welfare in term of decreasing lameness. While providing rubber mat alone with brick was comparable to concrete and brick.