Effect of floor type on hock health of Sahiwal heifers

Abstract

The present study was carried out to observe the effect of different flooring types on the hock health of Sahiwal heifers. Twenty four healthy Sahiwal heifers maintained at DDD Farm of ILFC of DUVASU, Mathura were quasi randomly distributed into four groups on the basis of body weight and age. Heifers of first group were reared on concrete flooring (T1) which served as control group, the heifers of second group were reared on Sand flooring (T2), the heifers of third group were reared on Cow Dung bed flooring (T3) and the heifers of fourth group were reared on Rubber mat installed flooring (T4). The animals were exposed to their respective floorings round the clock, for which they were kept in tethered conditions and scoring for hock health was done on a fortnightly basis. There was a significant effect (PT4>T1>T2).