Housing design is vital for the maintenance of good welfare in dairy cows. Floor type and its influence on locomotion performance in dairy cattle were first suggested by Albright in 1997. Subsequently, floor features such as abrasiveness and hardness leading to insufficient friction and traction—as present in concrete floors (CF)—were suggested to negatively impact the claw health and locomotion of dairy cows. In this context, the use of cushioning floor surfaces, such as through the use of rubber flooring (RF), has been reported to improve gait properties. This includes reduced muscular activity in the hind limbs and similar stride length when compared to locomotion on pasture.
