Abstract
Approximately 88% of Norwegian dairy cattle are housed in tie stalls. Free stall housing for all dairy cattle will be implemented within 20 years. This means that the majority of existing stalls will be rebuilt in the near future. Fifty-seven free stall herds of the Norwegian Red breed were randomly selected and 1547 cows and 403 heifers were trimmed by 13 claw trimmers during the late winter and spring of 2002. The claw trimmers had been taught diagnosing and recording of claw lesions. Environment, management- and feeding routines were also recorded. Fifty-three herds had concrete slatted alleys while 4 had solid concrete. Thirty-five herds had concrete as a stall base, while 17 had rubber mats, 2 had wood and 3 had deep litter straw beds. The prevalence of lameness was 1.6% in hind claws. Models for lameness and claw lesions were designed to estimate the influence of different risk factors and to account for the cluster effects within herd and claw trimmer. Detected risk factors for lameness were: parity three and above and narrow cubicles; for heel horn erosions: lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving and solid concrete alleys; for haemorrhages of the white line: lactation stage around 3–5 months after calving and solid concrete alleys; for haemorrhages of the sole: parity one, lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving and short cubicles, for white line fissures: slatted concrete alleys; for asymmetrical claws: parities two and above and for corkscrewed claws: solid concrete alleys. The prevalence of lameness in heifers was low, however 29% had one or more claw lesions. Heifers that were housed in pens or free stalls had more heel-horn erosions, haemorrhages of the sole and white-line fissures than heifers in tie stalls. As new free stalls are being built, it is important to optimise the conditions for claw health.
Highlights
Claw disorders cause 90% of lameness in dairy cattle (Murray et al 1996)
Models for lameness and claw lesions were designed to estimate the influence of different risk factors and to account for the cluster effects within herd and claw trimmer
As part of a project on claw lesions in Norwegian Red dairy cattle, the present paper focuses on possible environmental risk factors in free stalls which may influence on claw health
Summary
Claw disorders cause 90% of lameness in dairy cattle (Murray et al 1996). Factors that have been associated with claw lesions are individual factors like stage of lactation, parity, weight and genetics (Vermunt & Greenough 1994). Parity (Enevoldsen et al 1991b, Alban 1995) and stage of lactation (Huang et al 1995) has been shown to be risk factors for lameness and claw lesions as well as the possible exacerbation of disease by mechanical and nutritional influences (Logue et al 1993). In tie stalls the lying-, standing-, milking- and feeding area is restricted to one station In free stalls these areas, including the walking area is distributed on four stations which expose the claws to a much more complex environment. As part of a project on claw lesions in Norwegian Red dairy cattle, the present paper focuses on possible environmental risk factors in free stalls which may influence on claw health. Individual factors like parity and stage of lactation are included
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