New concrete floor disease is still a problem in many
new dairy barns.
Pouring a smooth floor and cutting grooves for traction solves the problem
of cow comfort and traction. The other part of the problem is the high ph
of new concrete. Putting cows onto new concrete floors can cause burning of
the hooves by the limestone in concrete. The solution is either to treat it
with a mild acid solution eg. Muriatic Acid and water (1/40), to bring it
closer to 7 (neutral) or to seal the concrete in order to keep the cows' hooves
from contacting the high ph concrete. The preferred method is to use a sealant
because it seals the moisture in making the concrete harder. A common low
cost sealant is boiled linseed oil.
Aisles should be cleared of debris and flushed to remove dirt. Wait til dry.
Treatment consists of spray, roll or brush on boiled linseed oil followed
by another treatment 24 hours later after the first coat has dried. Temperature
should be above 60 F degrees. Water should bead on the newly treated floor.
You are now ready for cattle.
Several dairy producers have successfully used this treatment on new dairy
barn floors.
Glen Buchner, Elmwold Farms, Brownsville Ontario - "Cows' showing strong heats,
feel very safe.....few hoof problems. On a previously poured floor, hoof problems
had persisted for a year and a half."
