Effetto di alcuni interventi di stabulazione e di climatizzazione sul benessere di vacche da latte

[Autom. eng. transl.] During three experimental tests, performed on two groups of dairy cows, the effect on the well-being and performance of the animals of two interventions was verified: one, relative to the type of substrate used for resting (sand and straw ); the other, related to the type of air conditioning in the rest area (cooling). The results demonstrate the clear superiority of the sand, during the summer period, both to the effects of animal welfare and to productive performance. Sand, on the other hand, has not shown any negative effects, even in the cold season. The high wetting of the rest area, in the warm period, carried out with showers on bunks with sand, improves the performance and behavior of the subjects, but poses some health problems (mastitis). Vice versa, a simple nebulization, in addition to having no effect on production, does not positively influence neither the well-being (rectal temperature and respiratory frequency) nor the behavior of the subjects (permanence in the bunks).