Short communication: Use of lameness scoring to genetically improve claw health in Austrian Fleckvieh, Brown Swiss, and Holstein cattle

Abstract

The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lameness scoring to genetically improve claw health in Austrian Fleckvieh, Brown Swiss, and Holstein cows based on data from the "Efficient Cow" project. In 2014, a 1-yr data collection was carried out. Data from 6,519 cows kept on 161 farms were recorded. At each time of milk recording, lameness scores were assessed by trained staff of the milk recording organizations. Hoof trimming on these farms was documented and recorded as well. Veterinarian diagnoses and culling due to foot and leg problems from these farms were available from the routine recording system. As repeated lameness records per cow and lactation were available, an overall lactation lameness score was calculated. Estimated heritabilities for lameness were 0.11, 0.05, and 0.09 for Fleckvieh, Brown Swiss, and Holstein, respectively; however, only heritability estimates for Fleckvieh were significantly different from zero. Breeding values for lameness were obtained, reversed in sign, and cows were ranked according to their breeding value. A low breeding value for lameness resistance (the bottom 10% of the cows) was associated with a significantly higher frequency of trimmed cows, which indicates that the cows selected by the farmer to be trimmed are not completely random. Additionally, a high breeding value for lameness resistance (the top 10% of the cows) was associated with lower frequencies of claw diseases recorded at trimming, claw and leg diagnoses, and culling due to foot and leg problems, which highlights the usefulness of lameness scoring for genetic improvement of claw health. Overall, selecting for a better lameness score has the potential to reduce claw diseases, especially the frequency of severe claw diseases that lead to culling.