Behavior during transition differs for cows diagnosed with claw horn lesions in mid lactation

Abstract

Claw horn lesions, including sole hemorrhages and sole ulcers, are a major cause of lameness in dairy cattle. These lesions often develop in the weeks around calving and become visible 8 to 12 wk later. The aim was to determine whether cows that are diagnosed with claw horn lesions several weeks after calving behave differently during the calving period when the lesions are thought to first develop. The claws of 26 multiparous Holstein dairy cows were scored for sole hemorrhage severity and presence of sole ulcers 2 wk before calving, 3 wk after calving, and every 4 wk thereafter until 15 wk after calving. Of the 26 cows, 13 cows had no or low lesion scores up to 15 wk and 13 cows had at least 1 new severe lesion or sole ulcer diagnosed between 7 and 15 wk after calving. Behavior (dry matter intake, feeding time and rate, number and size of meals, standing time, number and duration of standing bouts, location of standing, and displacements at the feed bunk) was recorded from 2 wk before calving to 3 wk after calving. Behavior during the 2 wk before calving, first 24h after calving, 1 wk after calving, and 2 to 3 wk after calving was compared between cows with and without lesions in mid lactation. Multivariate regression was used to determine the predictive value of each behavior and combination of behaviors on lesion diagnosis. Cows diagnosed with lesions in mid lactation spent more time standing than cows without lesions during the 2 wk before (832±29 vs. 711±29 min/d) and 24h after (935±46 vs. 693±46 min/d) calving. These differences were driven by an increase in the time spent perching with front feet in the stall (241±22 vs. 147±22 min/d at 2 wk before calving) and an increase in standing bout duration (101±10 vs. 56±10 min/bout at 24h after calving). Compared with cows without lesions, cows with lesions consumed feed at a faster rate (86±3 vs. 77±3g/min) during the 2 wk before calving and consumed more feed (17.9±0.9 vs. 12.3±0.9kg/d) during the 24h after calving. The number of displacements at the feeder was not different between groups. These results indicate that a combination of feeding and standing behavior during the transition can serve as early indicators of claw horn lesions in mid lactation.