By Bergsten, C. and Hultgren, J. and Manske, T., Report Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 1997
Description
In a survey conducted during the winter of 1996-97, questionnaires were sent to almost all of the dairy farmers in the area; 1989 replies were received, representing 47% of the farms (50% of the dairy cattle). Long stalls with stanchions were the most common housing type (in about half of the herds), followed by short stall stanchions (in one third); loose housing was used in 10% of herds. The litter was mainly chopped straw, except in cubicles where sawdust or wood shavings were generally found; rubber mats were used in the stalls of about half of the farms. Hoof trimming was carried out twice a year (or more often) in a third of the farms, and once a year in half of the farms. About 75% of the farmers hired professional hoof trimmers; those who served a large number of herds used electric grinders to a greater extent. Of those trimmed manually, most were done with a mallet and blade
In a survey conducted during the winter of 1996-97, questionnaires were sent to almost all of the dairy farmers in the area; 1989 replies were received, representing 47% of the farms (50% of the dairy cattle). Long stalls with stanchions were the most common housing type (in about half of the herds), followed by short stall stanchions (in one third); loose housing was used in 10% of herds. The litter was mainly chopped straw, except in cubicles where sawdust or wood shavings were generally found; rubber mats were used in the stalls of about half of the farms. Hoof trimming was carried out twice a year (or more often) in a third of the farms, and once a year in half of the farms. About 75% of the farmers hired professional hoof trimmers; those who served a large number of herds used electric grinders to a greater extent. Of those trimmed manually, most were done with a mallet and blade
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