Effects of type of lesion and trimming on short-term behavior of grazing dairy cows

Eduardo Augusto Da Cruz,Gabriela Caillava Da Porciuncula,Vivian Fischer,Daíse Werncke,Carolina Da Silva Dos Santos,Marcelo Tempel Stumpf,Lorena Teixeira Passos

doi:10.1590/s1806-92902017000400002

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate how type of hoof injury and corrective trimming alter the behavior of dairy cows. Thirty-four lactating Holstein and Jersey cows were used. They were scored for lameness score on days –2 and 6, before and after trimming and treatment, respectively, using a numerical rating system, in which 1 = perfect gait and 5 = severely lame, and had their postural and ingestive behavior evaluated on days –1 and 6 before and after trimming and [...]

Highlights

Lameness is a change in the gait of animals, frequently related to the presence of lesions that lead to pain and/or discomfort
This study aimed to investigate how type of hoof injury and corrective trimming alter the behavior of dairy cows
Thirty-four lactating Holstein and Jersey cows were used. They were scored for lameness score on days –2 and 6, before and after trimming and treatment, respectively, using a numerical rating system, in which 1 = perfect gait and 5 = severely lame, and had their postural and ingestive behavior evaluated on days –1 and 6 before and after trimming and treatment, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Lameness is a change in the gait of animals, frequently related to the presence of lesions that lead to pain and/or discomfort. Some conditions such as high milk production in early lactation (Bicalho et al, 2008), low body condition score during the periparturient period (Hoedemaker et al, 2009), age (Dippel et al, 2009), and environment as type of flooring, presence of dirt, and humidity (Cook and Nordlund, 2009) may enhance the occurrence of lameness in the herd. Cortisol levels (often a sign of stress) increase after hoof trimming, suggesting that cows find it painful or stressful (Reinemann et al, 1999). The majority of scientific studies regarding this subject refers to confined cows; few addressed to grazing cows

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