Inhysningssystem för växande ungtjurar

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was, if possible, to find a housing system for growing bulls that was as optimal as possible for the animal welfare. In order to select housing systems you must take into account the size of the group, body weight and the type of floor. Seven of the international most common housing systems were compared, straw bedding, deep straw bedding, sliding straw bedding, concrete slatted floor, rubber coated slatted floor, cubicles and feeding cubicles. Studies that have examined the proportion of tail, claw and leg injuries and the presence of unnatural behavior in the different systems. In summary, all studies showed that soft underlay were beneficial for the animals in terms of the proportion of bone lesions and swellings. Rubber coated slatted floor can improve animal welfare in comparison with concrete slatted floors. Deep litter bedding was considered better in almost every category. There were also more disrupted orientation movements in housing systems with concrete slatted floors which may indicate adverse conditions. Space is an important prerequisite for the bulls to perform their natural behavior. Sufficient space for the animal also minimizes the aggression between animals when the ranking process is stabilizing. The various systems that have been studied have different advantages and disadvantages during growth and no single system stands out as superior to animal welfare in all different situations. In the case where there is no financial constraints could a combination of the different systems give the animal a better welfare.