Investigating the impact of 1h daily outdoor access on the gait and hoof health of non-clinically lame cows housed in a movement restricted environment

Abstract

Tie-stalls, recognized as highly restrictive housing systems, could contribute to reduced locomotor skills in cows over time. While outdoor access is known to benefit clinically lame cows, its influence on non-clinically lame cows is lesser known. This study evaluated the influence of 1h daily outdoor access on the gait and hoof health of non-clinically lame lactating Holstein cows in tie-stalls. We examined 30 cows, blocked by parity and DIM, and evenly assigned them to one of 2 groups: Exercise (1h outdoor access 5d/wk for 5 weeks) or Non-Exercise. A visual scoring system assessed 6 gait attributes and overall gait (on scales of 0–5 and 1–5, respectively) at Pre-trial, Post-trial, and 8-week Follow-up stages. A total of 15 cows (9 Exercise, 6 Non-Exercise) underwent visual gait scoring, with logistical challenges and exclusion criteria leading to this selection. Hoof health for all 30 cows was evaluated through clinical examinations during pre-trial and follow-up hoof trims, documenting claw lesions. Additionally, hoof surface thermography captured dorsal views of the coronary band in the 1st and 5th weeks of the trial. Although no significant gait score changes were observed, Exercise cows demonstrated a 1-point improvement in overall gait score and 3 gait attributes after 5 weeks of outdoor access, which persisted at Follow-up. Sole hemorrhages were the only claw lesions observed, and their prevalence and severity remained consistent between Pre-trial and Follow-up for both groups. Thermography showed consistent coronary band temperature metrics across groups and over time. In conclusion, brief outdoor sessions resulted in noticeable, albeit not statistically significant, improvements in the gait of non-clinically lame cows in restrictive housing settings. Additionally, these sessions did not result in hoof lesion development, indicating no adverse effects. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the benefits of different outdoor access and to utilize precise gait and hoof health analysis technologies for a more accurate detection of subtle changes.