A longitudinal cohort study was conducted to follow the health of 787 calves from one UK dairy farm over a two-and-a-half-year period. Weekly health scores were gathered using a modified version of the Wisconsin Calf Scoring system (which did not record ear position) until calves were eight weeks of age, combined with data on colostral passive transfer, mortality, age at first conception and 305-day milk yield. High morbidity levels were detected, with 87 per cent of calves experiencing at least one clinically significant event (diarrhoea, pyrexia, pneumonia, nasal or ocular discharge, navel ill or joint ill). High rectal temperature, diarrhoea and a cough were the most prevalent findings. The effect of total protein levels was significantly associated with the development of pyrexia as a preweaning calf (P<0.01), but no other clinical health scores. The majority of moribund calves had just one clinically severe clinical sign detected at each of the weekly recordings. The overall mortality rate was 21.5 per cent up to 14 months of age, with 12.7 per cent of calves dying during the preweaning period. However, most calves that died were not recorded as having experienced a severe clinical sign in the time between birth and death, indicating a limitation in weekly calf scoring in detecting acute disease leading to death. Therefore, more frequent calf scoring or use of technology for continuous calf monitoring on farms is required to reduce mortality on farms with high disease incidence rates.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is the leading infectious cause of lameness in dairy cattle, and it affects their welfare and productivity worldwide. At the herd level, DD is often assessed while cows are standing in a milking parlor, and lesions are most commonly evaluated using the M-score. The objective of this study was to examine the interobserver agreement for M-scores of the feet of standing cattle, based on digital color photographs of dairy cattle hind feet. A total of 88 photographs and written descriptors of the M-score were sent to 11 scorers working at 10 different institutions in 5 countries. The scorers received no formal training immediately before scoring the photographs; however, all regularly used the M-score to score DD. The answers for 36 photographs were excluded from the analysis because the photograph either had more than 1 M-stage as mode or not all scorers assigned an M-score to it. The M-scores of the 11 scorers from 52 photographs were available for analysis. Interobserver agreement was tested using Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC1) and the mode was assumed correct. Overall, moderate agreement emerged for the M-score (AC1 = 0.48). For the individual M-stages, almost perfect agreement existed for M0 (AC1 = 0.99), M1 (AC1 = 0.92), and M3 (AC1 = 0.82), and substantial agreement for M2 (AC1 = 0.61), M4 (AC1 = 0.65), and M4.1 (AC1 = 0.71). This outcome indicates the degree of individual variation in M-scoring in this context by unstandardized, experienced European observers, particularly for the M2, M4, and M4.1 stages. Standardized training is likely to improve the consistency of M-scoring and thus the generalizability of future DD research results on this important endemic disease.

No abstract

The Dutch Five Step trimming method ( Toussaint Raven, 1985 ) has been an internationally recognised standard for cattle foot trimming for over 30 years. However, with the increasing size and productivity of UK dairy cattle, modifications have been proposed. Research evidence suggests that some modifications may be beneficial, particularly a deeper concavity of the sole of the lateral hind claw to reduce peak force and compression of the corium which can lead to injury during standing and locomotion. There remains considerable debate over optimal toe length and lack of clarity about from where the initial measurement is made. Furthermore, there is limited evidence on what is the optimal frequency of routine trimming. Current research supports the view that routine trimming using best practice standards is beneficial in terms of reducing lameness and promoting welfare, but this may not always be cost beneficial in herds with a low lameness incidence. It should also not be prioritised over lameness treatment.

Clinical mastitis is much less common in dairy sheep and goats than in cattle, but it is still a major cause of loss and impaired welfare. Subclinical mastitis rates range from 5–30%, but it is a significant cause of lost production and impaired milk quality. Gram-positive bacteria, in particular Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, and contagious modes of transmission predominate. Diagnosis is complicated by higher somatic cell counts (SCC) even in uninfected udders, particular in goats. Control of mastitis requires a multimodal approach involving treatment, culling, vaccination and steps to reduce transmission.