Abstract
Simple SummaryFor animal welfare reasons, reducing the prevalence of lameness should be one of the most important goals in dairy farming. In this study, the influence of early detection and treatment of lame cows on lameness prevalence, incidence and duration of lameness in comparison with routine lameness management practiced on a dairy farm was determined. The results suggest that early detection and treatment of lame cows significantly reduced the duration of lameness, and, therefore, the prevalence of lameness.The objective of this study was to determine the influence of weekly locomotion scoring and, thus, early detection and treatment of lame cows by a veterinarian on lameness prevalence, incidence, duration of lameness, fertility and milk yield on one dairy farm in Northern Germany. Cows were distributed to two groups. Cows in Group A (n = 99) with a locomotion score (LS) > 1 were examined and treated. In Group B (n = 99), it was solely in the hands of the farmer to detect lame cows and to decide which cows received treatment. Four weeks after the beginning of the experimental period, the prevalence of cows with LS = 1 was higher in Group A compared with Group B. Prevalence of lame cows (LS > 1) increased in Group B (47.6% in Week 2 to 84.0% in Week 40) and decreased in Group A from Week 2 to Week 40 (50% to 14.4%; P < 0.05). Within groups, the monthly lameness incidence did not differ. The average duration of lameness for newly lame cows was 3.7 weeks in Group A and 10.4 weeks in Group B (P < 0.001). There was no effect on fertility and incidence of puerperal disorders. The 100-day milk yield was calculated from cows having their first four Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) test day results during the experimental period. The mean 100-day milk yield tended to be higher in Group A compared with Group B (3,386 kg vs. 3,359 kg; P = 0.084).
Highlights
Lameness in cattle is considered to be an important health problem in dairy herds
There are a number of studies on the prevalence and incidence of lameness in dairy cows [17,18,19] with prevalence estimates ranging from 5% to 45%
In studies using similar scoring systems as well as lameness definitions, the mean prevalence ranged from 22.6% to 33.2% [8,9]
Summary
Lameness in cattle is considered to be an important health problem in dairy herds. Lameness has a negative impact on milk production [1,2,3], reproduction [4,5] and poses an increased risk of culling [4,6]. In addition to the economic impact, lameness is a behavioral expression of pain. Lameness is one of the most important welfare problems in dairy cattle [7]. In the study by Tadich et al [8], the mean prevalence was 33.2% in large herds and 28.7% in small herds in southern. Sogstad et al [9] reported a prevalence of 22.6%
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