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Short Communication


Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model

Maria Cicogna, Mauro Testa, Stefano Tarantino, Andrea Corda, Federica Valeri, Francesco Porciello, Domenico Caivano.


Abstract
Background:
Concrete is the most commonly used alley flooring in dairy farms because of its durability and ease of cleaning. However, concrete surfaces’ hardness, abrasiveness, and slipperiness can negatively affect hoof health, locomotion, and overall animal welfare. Consequently, alternative flooring materials, such as rubber-based surfaces, are increasingly being considered to improve the walking conditions of dairy cattle.

Aim:
This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of three flooring surfaces (concrete, porphyry, and a next-generation rubber mat produced from recycled ELT rubber) on limb acceleration patterns and stepping behavior in dairy cows.

Methods:
Ten multiparous dairy cows were enrolled in a clinical trial. Locomotor responses were assessed using two complementary approaches: first, a wearable accelerometer was applied to the left hind limb to quantify acceleration and vibration parameters during walking across the three surfaces. Second, walking behavior was evaluated by comparing step counts between rubber and porphyry flooring. Owing to sensor malfunction, accelerometer analysis was ultimately performed on six cows.

Results:
Acceleration values were generally higher on concrete than on rubber and porphyry, while X-axis vibration was markedly lower on porphyry than on both concrete and rubber surfaces. Step counts were slightly lower on rubber flooring than on porphyry flooring. However, no statistically significant differences were detected among flooring types for either acceleration parameters or stepping behavior (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:
Although not statistically significant, the observed patterns suggest that limb loading can be reduced by more compliant flooring surfaces. Owing to the limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered preliminary. Further studies are required to confirm these results.

Key words: Animal welfare; Hoof health; Dairy cows; Locomotion biomechanics; Recycled rubber.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Cicogna M, Testa M, Tarantino S, Corda A, Valeri F, Porciello F, Caivano D. Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(9): 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40

Web Style

Cicogna M, Testa M, Tarantino S, Corda A, Valeri F, Porciello F, Caivano D. Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=308611 [Access: September 16, 2026]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Cicogna M, Testa M, Tarantino S, Corda A, Valeri F, Porciello F, Caivano D. Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(9): 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Cicogna M, Testa M, Tarantino S, Corda A, Valeri F, Porciello F, Caivano D. Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Vet. J.. (2026), [cited September 16, 2026]; 16(9): 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


Harvard Style

Cicogna, M., Testa, . M., Tarantino, . S., Corda, . A., Valeri, . F., Porciello, . F. & Caivano, . D. (2026) Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Vet. J., 16 (9), 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


Turabian Style

Cicogna, Maria, Mauro Testa, Stefano Tarantino, Andrea Corda, Federica Valeri, Francesco Porciello, and Domenico Caivano. 2026. Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (9), 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


Chicago Style

Cicogna, Maria, Mauro Testa, Stefano Tarantino, Andrea Corda, Federica Valeri, Francesco Porciello, and Domenico Caivano. "Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model." Open Veterinary Journal 16 (2026), 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Cicogna, Maria, Mauro Testa, Stefano Tarantino, Andrea Corda, Federica Valeri, Francesco Porciello, and Domenico Caivano. "Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model." Open Veterinary Journal 16.9 (2026), 6347-6352. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Cicogna, M., Testa, . M., Tarantino, . S., Corda, . A., Valeri, . F., Porciello, . F. & Caivano, . D. (2026) Effects of conventional and recycled rubber flooring on stepping behavior and limb acceleration patterns in a dairy cattle model. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (9), 6347-6352. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i9.40


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