Validation of function and economy for alternative flooring solutions in cattle barns

For that purpose advanced biomechanical methods will be used to assess dairy cows´ manoeuvrability and slipping experimentally. The best adaptable and informative variables from the locomotion laboratory will then be used to evaluate possible flooring solutions to reduce slipperiness in practice on dairy farms. By epidemiological methods and data from Swedish milk recording scheme, the long term effects of different flooring improvements on welfare, health, fertility and longevity will be assessed retrospectively. Finally, the economy of improved flooring solutions will be evaluated and be the base for the judgement of which is the optimal flooring solutions for newly constructed as well as for improvements in older cattle houses with both animal welfare and farmers´ economy in mind.