Effects of pen floor on clinical and behavioural parameters of newly received beef cattle fattened under intensive rearing systems.

The study compared clinical and behavioural parameters of newly received beef cattle after one month of housing, on two different types of floor (fully slatted vs. deep litter). The assessment was carried out on 14 batches of imported French bulls reared in an intensive farm. The slatted floor increased the likelihood of occurrence of skin alterations, while it improved bulls cleanliness. The type of floor had a minor effect on cattle behaviour during the early part of fattening cycle and the observed differences were more due to the shape of the pen, rather than its type of floor.