Animal board invited review: Dairy cow lameness expenditures, losses and total cost

Abstract

Lameness is one of the most costly dairy cow diseases, yet adoption of lameness prevention strategies remains low. Low lameness prevention adoption might be attributable to a lack of understanding regarding total lameness costs. In this review, we evaluated the contribution of different expenditures and losses to total lameness costs. Evaluated expenditures included labor for treatment, therapeutic supplies, lameness detection and lameness control and prevention. Evaluated losses included non-saleable milk, reduced milk production, reduced reproductive performance, increased animal death, increased animal culling, disease interrelationships, lameness recurrence and reduced animal welfare. The previous literature on total lameness cost estimates was also summarized. The reviewed studies indicated that previous estimates of total lameness costs are variable and inconsistent in the expenditures and losses they include. Many of the identified expenditure and loss categories require further research to accurately include in total lameness cost estimates. Future research should focus on identifying costs associated with specific lameness conditions, differing lameness severity levels, and differing stages of lactation at onset of lameness to provide better total lameness cost estimates that can be useful for decision making at both the herd and individual cow level.

Invited review: Cattle lameness detection with accelerometers

“…Some recommendations indicate herds should be locomotion scored at least monthly (Horseman et al, 2014). However, the regularity of locomotion scoring or routine hoof trimming is usually much rarer with some farms never performing either (Adams et al, 2017;Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018). Contrary to the expert consensus, many farmers are satisfied with ad hoc detection (Horseman et al, 2014).…”

“…The debilitating effects, associated pain, and endemic prevalence make lameness a major welfare issue on dairy farms (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018;Alsaaod et al, 2019c). Lameness, or abnormal gait, is a response to pain caused by a range of pathologies (O'Callaghan, 2002;Van Nuffel et al, 2015b;Alsaaod et al, 2019b).…”

“…The second is routine hoof trimming. Here, legs are lifted, inspected, and if required, treated (Adams et al, 2017;Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018). The third, and most common, is ad hoc observation during other activities such as herding.…”

“…The estimated cost of lameness varies significantly between studies and pathology. On the higher end, a sole ulcer case has been estimated to cost USD $960 (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018). On the lower end, a case of foot rot has been estimated to cost as low as USD $136 (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018).…”

“…On the higher end, a sole ulcer case has been estimated to cost USD $960 (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018). On the lower end, a case of foot rot has been estimated to cost as low as USD $136 (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018). Despite the benefits of detection and the significant costs of lameness, the returns from automated lameness detection may still be marginal (Van De Gucht et al, 2017a,c).…”